Abstract: A mobile device is configurable by a controller to remotely operate a target controllable device, the controller and the target controllable device being part of a hospitality media system. A communication module establishes a connection to the controller and performs data transfer between the mobile device and the controller. A customization module receives customization information from the controller and customizes a user interface of the mobile device accordingly. A status information regarding the target controllable device is received from the controller and displayed on the user interface of the mobile device. A user of the mobile device thereafter issues a command via the user interface to the controller, the command containing instruction intended for the target controllable device. The controller receives the command and operates the target controllable devices in dependence upon instruction contained in the command received from the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for efficiently “catching-up” a user that is interested in a media asset when that user has missed a portion of the media asset while consuming the media asset together with other people. The system may detect that multiple people are consuming a media asset and may determine, based on a respective profile of each person, whether that person is interested in the media asset. When the system detects that the user is disregarding the media asset, the missed portion of the media asset is stored if the user is interested in the media asset, and is not stored if the user is not interested in the media asset.

Abstract: A multimedia streaming and network apparatus that includes a network module, a storage module and a multi-core processing module is provided. The multi-core processing module performs network communication through the network module and executes the hypervisor from the storage module to perform a multimedia streaming and network apparatus operation method that includes the steps outlined below. A virtual system is established. A router virtual machine is established in the virtual system to execute a router operating system configured to perform a network routing function. A multimedia streaming virtual machine is established in the virtual system to execute a multimedia streaming operating system configured to perform a multimedia playback function. The router virtual machine receives a multimedia network stream and transmits the multimedia stream through a bridge of the virtual system to be playback by the multimedia virtual machine.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for recommending content comprises: receiving an authorization to access a media content consumption history, wherein the media content consumption history includes a plurality of viewing sessions that each include media content items that have been consumed during that viewing session and wherein each of the plurality of viewing sessions is associated with session attribute information; generating a plurality of session group profiles by grouping a subset of viewing sessions from the plurality of viewing sessions based on the session attribute information; determining that a user device is consuming a media content item in a current viewing session; in response to determining that the current viewing session matches a session group profile from the plurality of session group profiles, and causing a recommended media content item to be presented on the user device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate a coordination between QAM and adaptive bitrate content delivery. Location information associated with a device may be utilized to identify and retrieve advertisements or alternate content for placement into a stream that is carrying requested content. Advertisement or alternate content may be placed into a stream based on retrieved placement information. The placement information may be resolved from one format to another depending upon a specific mode of delivery that is selected for delivering the stream to a media device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technology for a sensor network, machine to machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and the Internet of things (IoT). The present invention can be utilized for intelligent services (smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected car, health care, digital education, retail, security and safety-related services, and the like) based on the technology. The present invention relates to an efficient image processing method and device for virtual reality content, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the image processing method for projecting an image of virtual reality content comprises the steps of: acquiring a first planar image projected by dividing a front part and a rear part of a spherical image for expressing a 360-degree image; generating a second planar image projected by sampling the first planar image on the basis of a pixel position; and encoding the second planar image.

Abstract: A method for transmitting media data in a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Media Transport (MMT) system is provided. The method includes receiving a Media Processing Unit (MPU) fragmented into one or more Media Fragment Units (MFUs), generating one or more multimedia data packets each including a packet header and a payload, based on the MPU, and transmitting the one or more multimedia data packets to a terminal. A payload header included in the payload includes identification information indicating an MPU to which at least one MFU included in the payload belongs, and a counter indicating the number of the at least one MFU.

Abstract: Playback devices may receive video content and an age of a playlist associated with the video content. A playback device may use the age of the playlist to schedule output of video fragments of the video content. The playback device may adjust the output of the video content until an actual output time of a video fragment is substantially the same as the scheduled output time for the video fragment.

Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed include means for detecting encoded information present in audio obtained from a media presentation device, means for generating a signature of the audio, and means for determining an on/off state of the media presentation device based on a gain level, the means for determining to determine the on/off state based on the encoded information detected in the audio or the signature generated from the audio. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for crediting a portion of the audio to first media based on the encoded information or the signature, the means for crediting to credit the audio by overriding (i) a first determination that the media presentation device was in the off state during collection of the audio with (ii) a second determination that the media presentation device was in the on state based on the collection of the audio.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a live video broadcast method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method includes: receiving a live broadcast command, and creating a video buffer based on the live broadcast command; binding the video buffer with a picture drawing module, the picture drawing module being configured to detect and extract a video picture frame; detecting and extracting the video picture frame by using the picture drawing module, and storing all extracted video picture frames in the video buffer; collecting an external voice by using a microphone, and synchronously synthesize the external voice and the video picture frames stored in the video buffer into a video streaming media file; and uploading the video streaming media file to a live broadcast server, so that the live broadcast server performs live broadcasting.

Abstract: A method and system for using steganographically-encoded time information as a basis to control when a client carries out a content-related action. The client processes for presentation one or more linear media streams, each defining a respective time sequence of frames of media content, and at least one of the streams being steganographically encoded with at least one watermark at a respective time-point within the stream, the watermark encoding a timestamp of the respective time-point within the stream according to a server clock. The client extracts the timestamp from the watermark and computes a time offset based on a difference between the extracted timestamp and a current time according to a client clock. And the client uses the computed time offset as a basis to determine when the client should carry out a content-related action in a given one of the one or more linear media streams.

Abstract: A set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), video player or other host device receives and interacts with a transcode module to provide enhanced transcoding capabilities that may be useful in placeshifting or other applications. The transcode module includes a host interface that couples to and communicates with the host device. The transcode module also includes a processor that receives an encrypted media stream from the host device via the bus interface, decrypts the encrypted media stream, transcodes the encrypted media stream to a different format, re-encrypts the transcoded stream, and provides the re-encrypted media stream to the host device via the host interface. The transcoded media content may be placeshifted to a remote player, stored at the host, or used for any other purpose.

Abstract: A video distribution system according to one aspect is a video distribution system for distributing a video containing animation of a character object generated based on a motion of an actor, the video distribution system including: one or more computer processors; and a storage for storing a candidate list including candidates of decorative objects to be displayed in the video in association with the character object. The one or more computer processors execute computer-readable instructions to: in response to reception of a first display request from a viewing user, the first display request being sent for requesting display of a first decorative object among the decorative objects, add the first decorative object to the candidate list, and display the first decorative object in the video upon selection of the first decorative object from the candidate list.

Abstract: The present disclosure aims to provide a communication apparatus capable of achieving media distribution with a high quality of user experience. A communication apparatus is a communication apparatus configured to distribute media data to another communication apparatus via a plurality of lines, the apparatus including: a communication quality estimation unit configured to estimate communication qualities of the respective lines; a bit rate determination unit configured to calculate, from the estimated communication qualities of the respective lines, an index value indicating a quality of user experience when each of the lines is used and determine a bit rate of the media data based on the calculated index value; and a data allocation unit configured to allocate a data amount of the media data to the respective lines based on the estimated communication qualities of the respective lines and the bit rate that has been determined.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for a USB-based media device upgrading system. An embodiment operates by receiving a fetch command from a first instance of an application executing locally on a host device physically connected to media device. The fetch command is provided to a media device executing a second instance of the application. At the host device, metadata corresponding to the file that was retrieved by the media device is received. A rendering command is determined from the first instance of the application corresponding to displaying the interface including the fetched file as indicated by the metadata. The rendering command is provided to the media device that is configured to display the interface of the application responsive to executing the rendering command.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems to determine a conditional probability based on audience member probability distributions for media audience measurement are disclosed. Disclosed example methods for media audience measurement include determining a first audience probability distribution for a first member of a household and determining a second audience probability distribution for a second member of the household. Disclosed example methods also include calculating probabilities for audience combinations of the first member and the second member of the household based on the first audience probability distribution and the second audience probability distribution. Disclosed example methods further include determining a household audience characteristic probability based on the calculated probabilities of the audience combinations of the household. The household audience characteristic indicates likelihoods of different possible audience compositions of the household for a media event.

Abstract: A video distribution system in one embodiment includes one or more computer processors. The one or more computer processors execute computer-readable instructions to distribute a video that includes an animation of a character object generated based on actor's behavior to a viewing user, and store actor information representing the actor's behavior and nonverbal feedback information representing nonverbal feedback about the video from the viewing user in association with a time code of the video. The nonverbal feedback information is detected by one or more user devices.

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the streaming of commercial content in a video streaming system. Various embodiments facilitate the improved delivery of commercial content in a video streaming system by providing the ability to shift content to allow multiple relatively short commercials to be replaced with one or more longer commercials. As an example, a program channel is monitored to detect commercial content that has a first timespan. This commercial content is replaced with replacement commercial content that has a different timespan. The timing of the video stream is then adjusted to compensate for the difference in the timespan. For example, by monitoring the program channel to detect later commercial content that also has a timespan less than a threshold amount and then skipping this later detected commercial content.

Abstract: A narrative includes a number of serially connected narrative segments combined by a director or editor in a defined sequence to tell a story. Quite frequently a number of different narrative segments are available to the director or editor. A content delivery editor provides editors and directors with the ability to augment a standard with additional narrative segments that provide alternate perspectives, view, or insights to the narrative consumer. Such provides the ability to convey the same narrative to the narrative consumer using a number of plots, storylines, or perspectives. Branch points in the narrative, defined by the editor or director, provide the narrative consumer the opportunity to follow a storyline they find interesting. Each narrative consumer follows a “personalized” path through the narrative. Through social media, narrative consumers are able to discuss the narrative path with other narrative consumers who have taken a different path through the narrative.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are relating to the use of machine learning techniques to identify unrated content that will be appealing to particular demographics. Using explicit feedback (e.g., star ratings) and implicit feedback (e.g., viewing behavior) for a given demographic, feature sets are extracted from the rated titles and then used to recognize similar titles in unrated content.