Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for measuring quality of multimedia delivery to a client are presented. A method includes operations for embedding video markers in a video stream of a multimedia stream, and embedding audio markers in an audio stream of the multimedia stream. The video stream and the audio stream are then transmitted separately to the client. Further, video markers received at the client are extracted from the transmitted video stream, and audio markers received at the client are extracted from the transmitted audio stream. A measure of the audio-video synchronization quality is obtained by determining a quantifiable time difference between the video stream and the audio stream received at the client, where the quantifiable time difference is calculated based on the extracted video markers and the extracted audio markers.

Abstract: A protecting method for accessing material data adopted by a printer having a processing unit, a MCU for storing material data, and a transmission interface is disclosed. The method includes following steps of: determining whether to decide a data format at the processing unit once the material data is to be saved or read; generating confirm signal to be transmitted to the MCU through the transmission interface if the data format needs to be decided; looking up a table or performing a calculation according to content of the confirm signal at both the processing unit and the MCU for obtaining a corresponding data format; and, generating and transmitting transmission signal which includes the material data based on the corresponding data format by the processing unit and the MCU.

Abstract: A system for conducting a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control the selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is also operable to initiate a voice call in response to a selection of a user-interface displayed on the television. The system also includes a wireless set in communication with the set-top box, the wireless set operable to establish a portion of the voice path for the voice call. Signaling for the voice call is initiated by the set-top box.

Abstract: The Distributed, Unfolding, Embedded Transaction and Inventory Apparatuses, Methods and Systems (“DUETI”) transforms site traversal, site request, embed data request, purchase request inputs via DUETI components into contextual activity payload, digital/media/actual asset procurement outputs. DUETI is a distributed transaction and transformer mechanism. DUETI, in one embodiment, provides a cloud based, distributable, site agnostic purchasing account, and in essence, may act as a commerce enabling media distribution platform. DUETI may provide distributed: advertising, asset browsing, electronic transactions, social sharing and gifting, etc., all disjoined from any one server/site/source. As such, the DUETI may operate with native (e.g., paid) media assets wherever they exist and unfurl around such asset to bring a user the ability to operate on and with the asset wherever it may reside.

Abstract: A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user's commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user's experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for presenting media content are provided. In some implementations, a system for presenting media content is provided, the system comprising: a hardware processor that is programmed to: establish a connection with a media playback device; respond to a discovery request from a computing device presenting a media content item; establish a persistent communication channel with the computing device over a network in response to a request from the computing device to establish the persistent communication channel; receive identifying information of the media content item being presented by the computing device and identifying information of a source of the media content item being presented by the computing device; request the media content item from the identified source of the media content item as a stream of media content; and cause the media content item to be presented using the media playback device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing, deploying, and/or providing location-based controls for remote visitation in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying a request to establish a visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the visitation session includes at least one of: a voice or a video call, and wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device; receiving spacial information of the mobile device; and applying a rule to the visitation session based upon the spacial information.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture to perform an operation comprising receiving, from one of a plurality of stations, a message which includes at least a random number and a first hash value of the random number concatenated with a first key, comparing the first hash value to one or more second hash values, wherein each second hash value is generated by hashing the random number concatenated with one of a plurality of second keys and wherein each second key corresponds to a registered device of a device identification system, upon determining the first hash value matches one of the second hash values, determining an identity of the mobile device based on the corresponding second key, and based on the location of the station which sent the message, assigning a location to the mobile device.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of a portion of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that the received media content has a predefined characteristic; (iv) responsive to determining that the received media content has the predefined characteristic, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the portion of the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified portion of media content.

Abstract: A content delivery method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium, include a media playback device configured to play media content, a determination device configured to determine a cognitive state of a user in response to viewing of the media content, and an action device configured to perform an action regarding a progression of the media content played by the playback device based on the cognitive state determined by the determination device.

Abstract: An Intelligent TV can organize metadata about media items for display in a variety of contextual panels. The panels may be interactive or informational and may provide recommendations of other media items to the user. The Intelligent TV can receive a request to activate a panel through the reception of signals from a remote control or a user interface. Based on the request, the Intelligent TV can determine the type of panel requested by the user. The layout, information, and content of a panel may depend on the context and content of the media item with focus when a user activates the panel. The Intelligent TV can retrieve metadata for the requested panel and can then transition to the desired panel and provide the retrieved metadata.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a first protocol and a first capability information in a memory, the first capability information being associated with the first protocol as a capability information and also store a second protocol and second capability information in the memory, the second capability information being associated with the second protocol as the capability information, a reception unit configured to receive a command for requesting the capability information from the external apparatus via the network, a determination unit configured to determine whether the received command is in conformity to the first protocol or the second protocol, a reading unit configured to read out the first or second capability information associated with the protocol determined by the determination unit from the memory, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the read capability information to the external apparatus via the network.

Abstract: A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide a community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector, a contact evaluation module, and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The contact evaluation module is configured to access a rule assigned to the contact by the viewer. The rule indicates an action to be performed based on a content rating provided by the contact in the recommendation. The decision module is configured to determine the action to be at the viewer system, based on the content rating in the recommendation and the rule, and to initiate the action at the view system.

Abstract: A method for video streaming over at least one information-centric network (ICN), comprising transmitting a request for video content to a server, receiving a media presentation description (MPD) file corresponding to the video content from the server in response to the request for the video content, wherein the MPD file identifies names of copies of the video content in the at least one ICN, and wherein the copies of the video content represent different quality levels of the video content, probing the at least one ICN for the copies of the video content by searching the names of the copies, calculating a probability for each of the copies of the video content based on results of the probing, and fetching one of the copies of the video content based on the probability calculated for each of the copies of the video content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a set of custom keywords based on a media asset. The systems and methods may receive a media asset viewed by a user, receive a set of base keywords, and determine a character in the media asset. Further, the systems and methods may determine a set of custom keywords based on dialog in the media asset corresponding to the character and determine for a custom keyword, from the set of custom keywords, an equivalent base keyword from the set of base keywords. The systems and methods may determine a response to a received user request, wherein the response includes the base keyword from the set of base keywords, and generate a modified response to the user request based on the response to the user request, wherein the modified response replaces the base keyword with the custom keyword.

Abstract: Systems and method of video quality adaptation include acquiring video data to be streamed. An available bandwidth on a communications network is determined. A determined playback speed is determined based upon a bitrate of the video data to be streamed and the available bandwidth on the communications network. The video data is decoded to produce decoded video data which is encoded at the determined playback speed to produce encoded video data. The encoded video data is streamed across the communications network.

Abstract: A detection device includes: a light source that emits, toward an object, light of a first wavelength band, and light of a second wavelength band that is less readily absorbed by water than the light of the first wavelength band; a polarization splitter that splits at least one of S-polarized light and P-polarized light from light that has been reflected or scattered at the object; a photoreceptor that receives light reflected or scattered at the object via the polarization splitter; and a control unit that determines a state of the object from information based on light received by the photoreceptor. The light emitted by the light source is random polarized light where the ratio of P-polarized light and S-polarized light is generally uniform.

Abstract: A system for adaptive multi-device content distribution based on associated internet protocol (IP) addressing, the system including: a computer processor; a content engine executing on the computer processor and configured to: identify media content served to a television client; identify a client internet protocol (IP) address associated with the television client; submit, to a content exchange service, a request for content placement opportunities; receive content placement opportunities from the content exchange service, each content placement opportunity identifying at least a portion of a source IP address; identify, based on the provided portion of the source IP address, a subset of the content placement opportunities associated with the client IP address; and a content provider configured to: identify content relevant to the media content; and provide the content for the subset of the content placement opportunities.

Abstract: A communications system is provided employing two-way integration approach providing access to notifications and actions occurring on unmanaged communication devices through the use of TV. The system includes installation of an application on unmanaged devices providing the ability to access all notifications and actions occurring on the unmanaged devices using TV. The unmanaged device obtains an input directly from TV from an application server which in turn obtains its input primarily from a TV. The input is not limited to the TV only, and can come from other sources.

Abstract: A camera monitoring system for a vehicle includes a plurality of cameras disposed around an exterior of a vehicle. An image processing module communicates with the plurality of cameras, generating overhead view images from raw images taken by at least one of the plurality of cameras. A histogram module communicates with the image processing module, generating at least one histogram from the overhead view images. A likelihood module communicates with the histogram module and determines a likelihood of blockage for at least one of the plurality of cameras. A line alignment module communicates with the likelihood module and the image processing module to determine whether a trajectory of detected feature points in a selected camera aligns with a trajectory of detected feature points in an adjacent camera. A reporting module communicates with the line alignment module and reports a camera blockage status to at least one vehicle system or controller.