Abstract: For broadcast-grade service level guarantees for linear video Playout, it is important for Playout systems and the associated server hardware to be extremely reliable. To accomplish this both the Playout software and server hardware are tightly integrated in on-premise implementations. Playout systems on the cloud allow for leveraging cloud servers dynamically for running Playout systems. The present invention proposes a system and method redundant, cost-effective for time-advanced, server-independent cloud Playout, which is useful in a variety of scenarios including but not limited to accomplishing seamless redundancy, optimizing operating costs by choosing different service provider/regions/servers. This is achieved by pre-playing the channel ahead of schedule, and then passing it to the output through an intelligent delay buffer.

Abstract: The present invention suggests a method for transmitting a broadcasting signal. The method for transmitting a broadcasting signal, according to the present invention, suggests a system capable of supporting a next-generation broadcasting service in an environment which supports next-generation hybrid broadcasting, using a terrestrial broadcasting network and an Internet network. In addition, the present invention suggests an efficient signaling scheme which can cover both the terrestrial broadcasting network and the Internet network in an environment supporting next-generation hybrid broadcasting.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing local and cloud storage space for a plurality of media assets. The media guidance application may detect that a command was received to delete a first media asset from storage. In response to detecting the command, the media guidance application may determine a viewing pattern for the first media asset associated with a subset of users in a plurality of users, where the subset of users consumed the first media asset. The media guidance application may retrieve viewing commands associated with a second media asset performed by the subset of users, where the second media asset is related to the first media asset. The media guidance application may determine whether the viewing commands satisfy the viewing pattern. And in response to determining that the commands satisfy the viewing pattern, the media guidance application may delete the second media asset from storage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for estimating audience member engagement with content, or distinguishing between users consuming content and users who have become distracted or have left. User presence or attention may be estimated from user interactions with or skipping of content, with the user interactions either compared to high quality engagement data from small audience measurement panels, or extrapolated based on a temporal-engagement curve. An attention gap may be estimated, representing users that were not present for or not engaged with or paying attention to a presentation of content at a client device. This allows the measurement system to distinguish between users who consumed and potentially enjoyed the content, and users who did not, even as client devices of both sets of users receive and present the content items.

Abstract: A digital video conversion device is communicatively coupled to a TV set and a TV signal source, respectively, to pass TV signals from the TV signal source to the TV set. Upon receipt of a TV channel identification request from a mobile terminal via a wireless communication channel, the digital video conversion device acquires an image from the TV signals currently broadcasted on the TV set and extracts a plurality of station logo characteristic sets from the image, each station logo characteristic set corresponding to one of a plurality of station logo templates. After calculating a similarity score between each station logo characteristic set and a corresponding station logo template, the digital video conversion device identifies one of the plurality of station logo templates as matching the image based on their similarity scores and returns TV channel information associated with the identified station logo template to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a system and methods for media content analysis based at least in part upon social media data. In some embodiments, a computer system may determine a viewership associated with a selected piece of televised content such as a television show or advertisement. The computer system may also identify social media data such as social media messages associated with the selected piece of televised content. The computer system may calculate an audience engagement measurement corresponding to the selected piece of televised content based upon the social media data and the viewership.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided for provisioning an output device for use with a media device to produce synchronized audio and video portions of media content. An exemplary method involves a media device identifying a device type associated with the output device, obtaining synchronization settings for the device type from a server via a network, and presenting audiovisual content in accordance with the synchronization settings obtained from the server.

Abstract: Securing access to content provided over a distributed network is provided. A user desiring content from a given content source may provide login credentials via a downloaded content source application that will be used to authenticate the requesting user's access to the requested content item via a content services provider. When the access request is received, the content source application passes to the content services provider login/authentication credentials, location information and access attempt frequency information. If the location information and/or access attempt frequency information for the requesting user and/or user device raises suspicion that the requested access may be unauthorized, an automated notification can be passed to a primary services account holder associated with an account through which the requested content is received to request permission or denial from the primary account holder to allow the requested content access.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that recommends a location to consume media content based on the quality of service at various locations.

Abstract: A method for controlling display of information on a display device includes storing information corresponding to a broadcast program guide. When a signal is received based on activation of a specific key while the first broadcast program is displayed on a screen, information on the first broadcast program and information on a second program to be broadcast after the first broadcast program is detected. The first broadcast program is then displayed in a first region of the screen simultaneously with the information on the first broadcast program and the information on the second broadcast program in a second region of the screen.

Abstract: A method and system for switching television channels. A mobile terminal receives channel information, and displays the channel information on a display screen, to allow a user operating the mobile terminal to submit an instruction for switching to a user desired channel. The mobile terminal transmits the user instruction to a set-top box to instruct the set-top box to switch to the user desired channel according to the user instruction. A registration code generated using IMEI or MEID of the mobile device is registered at the set-top box to verify the mobile device before receiving or executing the user instruction. The transmission or the execution of the user instruction may be delayed to a scheduled time without affecting the currently played program.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to audio-video processing, and more particularly to system and method for dynamically generating and rendering highlights of a video content. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a start trigger and a stop trigger to generate and render the highlights of a portion of the video content playing on a first device for a registered user, recording at least one sub-portion of the portion of the video content upon receiving the start trigger and until receiving the stop trigger, monitoring the at least one sub-portion of the video content to detect one or more critical events, dynamically generating the highlights of the at least one sub-portion of the video content for each of the one or more critical events, and dynamically rendering the highlights of the at-least one sub-portion of the video content on a second device in possession of the registered user.

Abstract: A fault tolerant video streaming distribution service utilizes multiple distribution servers to receive and process a video stream simultaneously. Each distribution server performs a mapping of each encoded timestamp associated with a transport stream having time discontinuities to a continuous time sequence. The distribution servers coordinate the timestamp mapping through a distributed leader election protocol that elects a leader to coordinate the timestamp mapping in an environment where failures are anticipated and the number of distribution servers dynamically changes without notice.

Abstract: A method for providing recommendations for audio/video content is provided. The method obtains, by a computing device, a plurality of promotion frequencies, each of the plurality of promotion frequencies being associated with presentation of promotional advertisements for a respective set of audio/video content; identifies, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of promotion frequencies indicative of highly-promoted sets of audio/video content; compares, by the computing device, the subset to viewing habits of a user to identify corresponding data; and determines, by the computing device, recommendations for potential viewing by the user, based on the corresponding data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting whether a commercial is ongoing on a program channel and indicating commercial status of a program channel in a program guide are described. Also described are channel surfing methods and apparatus where a user is allowed to automatically skip channels with ongoing commercials and is provided with an indicator of the commercial status on one or more previous program channels while viewing content of program channel to which the user switched.

Abstract: A first networked device may perform operations including receiving, from a media source device, a first media stream and a first media stream identifier. The first networked device may receive the first media stream via a wireless network connection. Operations may further include receiving, from a second networked device, a second media stream identifier that corresponds to a second media stream the second networked device is receiving from the media source device. Operations may further include determining a common stream characteristic between the first media stream and the second media stream and, in response to determining the common stream characteristic, grouping the second networked device with the first networked device. Operations may further include transmitting, to a controller device, an indication that the first networked device and second networked device are grouped.

Abstract: A transmission method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a transmission method for transmitting content through broadcasting, including: generating a plurality of frames for transfer, each of which includes a plurality of first transfer units in which the content is to be stored, each of the plurality of frames having a fixed length, each of the plurality of first transfer units having a variable length; and transmitting the plurality of frames generated. The generating includes sequentially placing the plurality of first transfer units into the plurality of frames, and in the placing, even when a data size of a current first transfer unit to be processed is smaller than a remaining capacity of a current frame to be processed, the current first transfer unit is placed into a next frame.

Abstract: Relationships and descriptions are inferred for entities that appear in media content, such as movies and television programs. In one embodiment, media content is analyzed to infer relationships among entities that appear in the media content over an entirety of the media content. Relationships between two or more entities may change over time in the media content. A request is received from a client device for entity information regarding one or more entities relative to a particular time in the media content. Relationships that have been inferred via this analysis are then identified based at least in part on the particular time. The entity information presenting the identified relationships is sent to the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable the determination of a playback position of a video player. A request is received, at a system over a network from a user device, for an item of video content. Interstitial content is received. The interstitial content is segmented into segments and the segments are encrypted. A given decryption key is associated with a respective locator, such as a URL. A playlist manifest file is generated that includes locators corresponding to segments of the requested item of video content, segments of the interstitial content, and decryption keys for respective encrypted interstitial segments. The generated playlist manifest file is transmitted to the user device. A request for a first decryption key for an encrypted first interstitial segment is received, and based on the request, a playback position of the video player is determined. A corresponding message, indicating the playback position, may be transmitted to a remote destination.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods that facilitate employing bandwidth factors to determine, infer, or predict a client device buffer wait time or a client device buffer ratio associated with a video playback on a client device to select an advertisement format for the video and select an advertisement to accompany the video based upon the format.