Abstract: The present invention is directed to a CATV & MoCA® device, such as a RF signal amplifier. The RF signal amplifier includes a RF input port to receive signals from, and transmit signals to, a service provider. The RF input port is connected to an active communication path with a downstream signal amplifier leading to an input of a resistive splitter network. The resistive splitter network has plural interconnected resistors, which split the amplified signal received at the input of the resistive splitter network and provide the signal to plural “CATV & MoCA®” output ports. Upstream CATV signals received by the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are combined by the resistive splitter network and sent to the RF input port to be transmitted to the service provider. MoCA® signals received by any one of the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are carried by the resistive splitter network to the other “CATV & MoCA®” output ports, and potentially to other “MoCA® only” ports of the RF signal amplifier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for selecting content to be presented are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: receiving a request for a first video content item from a user device; receiving an indication that the user device is in a background playback mode; determining that the first video content item is not suitable for presentation in the background playback mode based on one or more properties of audio data; based on the determining that the first video content item is not suitable for presentation in the background playback mode, selecting a second video content item that is suitable for presentation in the background playback mode based on the one or more properties of the audio data of the second video content item; and in response to selecting the second video content item, causing the second video content item to be presented by the user device.

Abstract: Machine-learning based multi-step engagement strategy generation and visualization is described. Rather than rely heavily on human involvement to create delivery strategies, the described learning-based engagement system generates multi-step engagement strategies by leveraging machine-learning models trained using data describing historical user interactions with content delivered in connection with historical campaigns. Initially, the learning-based engagement system obtains data describing an entry condition and an exit condition for a campaign. Based on the entry and exit condition, the learning-based engagement system utilizes the machine-learning models to generate a multi-step engagement strategy, which describes a sequence of content deliveries that are to be served to a particular client device user (or segment of client device users).

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing user accommodations are described. An exemplary system may include an electronic device configured to receive audiovisual content and/or user inputs. The electronic device may further include one or more processors as well as memory, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause them to perform one or more locating functions to locate one or more users of the electronic device, and determine a level of interaction for the one or more users based at least in part on the location. The one or more processors may further be caused to perform at least one accommodation function based at least in part on the determined level of interaction for the one or more users or location of the one or more users.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method, device and system for synchronously playing a message stream and an audio-video stream, and involves in the field of streaming media live broadcast technology. In the present disclosure, a stream-pulling terminal pulls an audio-video stream from an audio-video server and plays the audio-video stream, pulls a message stream from a message server and caches the message stream (201). Herein, each audio-video frame in the audio-video stream is supplemented with an audio-video timestamp, each message in the message stream is supplemented with a message timestamp, and time sources taken by the audio-video timestamp and of the message timestamp are synchronous time sources. The stream-pulling terminal determines a message synchronously played with an audio-video frame to be played in a cached message stream in accordance with the audio-video timestamp of the audio-video frame and the message timestamp of the message, and plays the message (202).

Abstract: A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system includes a TV service provider headend and a set top box (STB). The HDTV may have an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect. The STB may be electrically coupled to the headend and have an STB DVI interconnect. When the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV generally presents a data signal to the STB and the STB generally presents the data signal to the headend.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for controlling access from a first content platform to content items available on a second content platform to which a user will temporarily have access in the near future. The first content platform identifies a period of time during which the user will have access to the second content platform and determines an access duration of the period of time. The first content platform retrieves a plurality of content identifiers of content items that will be available on the second content platform during the period of time. Upon receiving selection of a content identifier, the first content platform determines a duration of the content item corresponding to the selected content identifier and generates for display the content item. The first content platform then reduces the access duration by an amount of time equal to the duration of the content item.

Abstract: A computer system, method, and computer-readable product for automatically generating a hierarchy of concepts described in a video using semantic concept matching that assists persons in searching for specific types of content within videos. A video segment is obtained, with the segment having a distinct running time with discrete information related to one or more topics within its content. The discrete information of the video segment is then parsed out and related to a predetermined relevant topic, and then one or more attributes for weighting each discrete information relevant topic within the video segment are determined. A hierarchy of concepts of the video segments is then created, based upon, at least, the weighting of the information topic within the running time of the video segment based upon the presence of the one or more attributes. Other information related to the video segment can also be used to modify the hierarchy.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate an audience population.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computing device may display a video browser screen on an output device. The video browser screen may include a list of video programs arranged as a carousel. The carousel may have a plurality of entries, where an entry may represent a video program that may be provided by a service provider. A video program represented by an entry may be, for example, a live video program, a video program available on demand, or a video program that may have been recorded by a device that may be provided by the service provider. The computing device may acquire an indication to navigate to an entry in the carousel. The computing device may navigate to the entry and acquire an indication to select the entry. The computing device may select the entry and display the video program associated with the selected entry on the output device.

Abstract: Seek and other trick play functions can be improved in placeshifting and similarly live-encoded video streams. Thumbnail images are derived from I-frames (or similar key frames) of the source video stream rather than from the live-encoded stream. The thumbnail images are tagged to indicate a presentation time stamp (PTS) or similar identification of the source video frame that was used to create the thumbnail image. The tagged thumbnails are provided to the media player, which renders the images to indicate different portions of the video stream as the viewer scans or performs other functions. When the viewer selects to skip to a different part of the video stream, the PTS or similar identifier associated with the presented thumbnail image is sent to the placeshifting encoder to identify the appropriate starting point to resume live encoding.

Abstract: A digital content provider that provides content channels to users via a computer network selects an artist message. The content provider retrieves a predictive model trained to calculate an artist affinity score indicating a likelihood that a given user will provide positive feedback to a given artist message. The predictive model is trained, using machine learning, based on feedback from users for previous plays of artist messages. The content provider retrieves artist features describing the artist who recorded the artist message, and user features describing a candidate user. The content provider calculates an artist affinity score for the candidate user and selected artist message using the predictive model. The content provider determines to play a content item by the artist to the candidate user, determines to play the selected artist message associated with the content item based on the artist affinity score, and transmits the artist message and content item.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to reduce a remapping error. An example apparatus includes a distance matrix generator to generate a distance matrix corresponding to a first household demographic model and a second household demographic model. The example apparatus also includes a distance matrix identifier to determine a reassignment distance of the distance matrix. The example apparatus also includes a person identification assigner to, in response to the reassignment distance being less than a reassignment threshold, assign a person identification number of a first person of the first household to a second person of the second household based on the distance matrix.

Abstract: A system of one or more processors receives information from a computing device associated with a user profile, the information identifying a first list of content items including first episode in a series. The system determines that the first episode has been played using a content state of the first episode. The system determines a second list of content items, including a second episode in the series as an unsolicited content item and removing the first episode from the second list. The system sends the second list to the computing device and the computing device deletes the first episode and downloads the second episode in the series without first receiving a download request from a user or application of the computing device.

Abstract: System and methods are described to determining a recommendation for a user based on changes in objects detected on a network-connected surface. The system receives, from the network-connected surface, a plurality of object identifiers for a plurality of physically inanimate objects of different types detected on the network-connected surface, wherein the object identifiers indicate a positioning of each object; determines, based on the object identifiers, a first arrangement of the plurality of physically inanimate objects; detects one or more changes in the plurality of object identifiers, wherein the one or more changes correspond to one or more changes in positioning from the first arrangement; in response to detecting the one or more changes, determines a second arrangement of the plurality of physically inanimate objects; and generates a content recommendation based on the second arrangement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to interaction based on live webcast. In an example, an interaction method includes: receiving a bullet-screen comment message transmitted by a live broadcast client; in response to identifying a reference word string from the bullet-screen comment message, comparing the bullet-screen comment message with answer data corresponding to an interaction task to obtain a matching result; and outputting the matching result.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives one or more segments for content from a first content delivery network during a playback session for the content. The content includes a number of segments. The method evaluates buffer occupancy of a buffer configured to store segments of the content for playback and evaluates a number of times of a failure to download a segment for the content. The buffer occupancy is compared to a first threshold and the number of times of the failure to a second threshold. The method determines a switch from the first content delivery network to a second content delivery network during the playback session based on the comparing.

Abstract: [Object] The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method that enable more flexible operations to be performed. [Solving Means] A reception apparatus receives a content transmitted in an IP transmission system, acquires, based on first control information that is transmitted in a first layer in a protocol stack of the IP transmission system and includes information indicating whether second control information transmitted in a second layer higher than the first layer exists, the second control information, and controls operations of units that process the content based on the second control information. The present technology is applicable to television receivers supporting the IP transmission system.

Abstract: A chart for calibrating a system of multiple cameras, the chart comprising: a background; an array of dots contrasting the background, wherein the array of dots are arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array of dots comprise a first dot array, and a second dot array, wherein the first dot array fully occupies a first region of evenly spaced dots with a first dot density, the second dot array fully occupies a second region of evenly spaced dots with a second dot density, and wherein the second region is enclosed within the first region; a group of first markers in the first region, a group of second markers in the second region, and a third marker at the center of the chart, wherein each second marker is closer to the third marker than each first marker.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a client computing device for a first shot included in a media title being streamed to the client computing device for playback; in response to the request, sending the first shot to the client computing device for playback; and sending a representative image for at least one of the first shot and a second shot included in the media title, wherein the first shot comprises a first sequence of video frames that is included in the media title and captured continuously from a first point of capture, and the second shot comprises a second sequence of video frames that is included in the media title and captured continuously from a second point of capture.