Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for detecting a first reaction by a user when consuming a media asset at a first time, where a first magnitude of the first reaction exceeds a first threshold. The systems and methods may determine whether a second reaction by the user occurred when the user consumed the media asset at a second time that is prior to the first time, where a second magnitude of the second reaction exceeds a second threshold, and may recommend the second media asset to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for group-watching video streams. In one aspect, the disclosed systems and methods may provide expert commentary and annotations to enhance the enjoyment and engagement with the streaming media. The expert may be identified to join the group-watching event or pre-existing expert annotations may be displayed to the viewers at the group-watching event. In another aspect, the systems and methods nay generate an overlay for the streaming media that includes expert provided annotations and comments about the streaming media.

Abstract: This patent disclosure provides various embodiments of a client-server based digital video playback system and technique. In one aspect, a process for playing internet/online videos on a user device is disclosed. This process can begin by sending a video playback request for playing an online video to the server, wherein the video playback request includes a device type and a browser type of the user device. Next, the process receives a set of video playback addresses and a set of video playback configuration files from the server, wherein the set of video playback addresses and the set of video playback configuration files are generated based on the device type and the browser type. The process subsequently selects a video playback address from the set of video playback addresses corresponding to a transcoded version of the online video that matches a device version and a browser version of the user device.

Abstract: A method for providing contents includes receiving a selection request for specific contents, from an electronic device; and providing, to the electronic device, an episode list of a plurality of episodes which constitute the specific contents, based on the selection request for the specific contents.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for calculating a predicted time when a first user will be exposed to a spoiler of a first media asset. A media guidance application may retrieve an initial transmission time of the first media asset and a transmission time of a second media asset that precedes the transmission time of the first media asset. The media guidance application may retrieve electronic communications from a second user whose electronic communications the first user has viewed, and determine a subset of the electronic communications that correspond to the second media asset. The media guidance application may calculate a length of time from the transmission time of the second media asset to the earliest availability time of an electronic communication in the subset. The media guidance application may calculate the predicted time based on the transmission time of the first media asset and the length of time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing panoramic image and/or video content using multi-resolution stitching. Panoramic content may include stitched spherical (360-degree) images and/or VR video. In some implementations, multi-resolution stitching functionality may be embodied in a spherical image capture device that may include two lenses configured to capture pairs of hemispherical images. The capture device may obtain images (e.g., representing left and right hemispheres) that may be characterized by 180-degree (or greater) field of view. Source images may be combined using multi-resolution stitching methodology. Source images may be transformed to obtain multiple image components characterized by two or more image resolutions.

Abstract: Sensing interfaces associated with a home entertainment system are used to automate a system response to events which occur in a viewing area associated with the home entertainment system. Data derived from such sensing interfaces may also be used to enhance the response readiness of one or more system components. Still further, user presence data derived from such sensing interfaces may be used to capture and report user viewing habits and/or preferences.

Abstract: An electronic component unit includes: an electronic module in which a rear substrate is electrically connected via an electric cable to an electronic element; an external connection terminal that is electrically connected to an external circuit; a relay substrate including a terminal connection electrode to which the external connection terminal is electrically connected either directly or via a connection conductor; and a relay connector on the relay substrate. The electronic element is any one of: an imaging element; a laser element; and a sensor element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for displaying recommendations that are temporally relevant to activities of a user and are contextually relevant to a portion of viewed media. This may be accomplished by a media guidance application identifying activities a user has planned, as well as respective times for which each of the plurality of activities was planned to be performed by the user. The media guidance application may filter the activities by determining which of the first plurality of activities has a corresponding respective time that is within a threshold period of time. The media guidance application may then identify characteristics of each filtered activity and of a media asset that the user is consuming at the present moment, and may compute whether the characteristics match. If the characteristics match, the media guidance application may generate for display a recommendation relating to the respective activity.

Abstract: A method for streaming a 360 degree video over a communications network, wherein the video is streamed in a plurality of chunks, includes selecting a prediction window during which to predict a field of view within the video, the field of view is expected to be visible by a viewer at a time of playback of a next chunk of the video, wherein a duration of the prediction window is based on at least one condition within the communications network, selecting a machine learning algorithm to predict the field of view based on a head movement of the viewer, wherein the machine learning algorithm is selected based on the duration of the prediction window, predicting the field of view based on the head movement of the viewer and the machine learning algorithm, identifying a tile of the next chunk that corresponds to the field of view, and downloading the tile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing operations associated with blocked media assets using two-factor authentication. In some aspects, a media guidance application (e.g., executed by a set-top box or other user equipment used to store and display media assets) prompts a user for a password (e.g., a personal information number) in order to unlock the content for viewing. In response to receiving a second request from the user to perform an operation related to the media asset (e.g., delete), the media guidance application prompts the user for an additional factor confirming his or her identity, consistent with two-factor authentication protocol. If the user's identity is authenticated as a user that has authority to perform the operation related to the media asset (e.g., delete the stored media asset), the media guidance application performs the operation related to the media asset (e.g., deletes the media asset).

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining media content, providing it as input to a neural network adapted to categorize scenes according to predetermined categories, and generating metadata according to the categorization. An objectionable scene is identified based on a user preference and according to a characterization. An altered scene based on a content of the objectionable scene may be obtained responsive to the identifying of the objectionable scene. The altered scene provides a suitable scene in place of the objectional scene that preserves information of the content to obtain preserved information. Replacement of the objectionable scene with the altered scene may be facilitated to obtain adapted media content, wherein presentation of the adapted media content via equipment avoids presentation of the objectionable scene, while maintaining a continuity of the original media content via the preserved information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for recommending content based on user behavior tracking and analysis. Tracking data for a user indicating how the user interacted with a menu structure of a streaming media application is determined. A group from a plurality of user groups into which to group the user is selected based on the tracking data, wherein each group comprises data from a plurality of users. A plurality of content available for recommendation selection is determined. A first one of the plurality of content is selected as a content recommendation based on previous viewing patterns associated with the plurality of users of the selected group. The content recommendation is provided via the menu structure.

Abstract: A digital signage system allows a person to use the person's own mobile device as a voice input device to the digital signage system and also can leverage the person's mobile device in other ways such as by accepting other inputs from the mobile device, providing various outputs to the mobile device, or utilizing communication capabilities of the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an orderer to order metadata according to timing information, the metadata corresponding to digital media from a media provider; a data shifter to adjust the ordered metadata using a plurality of offsets to generate a plurality of adjusted ordered metadata; a comparator to perform a plurality of comparisons by comparing the plurality of adjusted ordered metadata to reference data; and compute a plurality of errors corresponding to the plurality of comparisons; and the data shifter to identify an offset of the plurality of offsets corresponding to a lowest computed error of the plurality of errors; and adjust the ordered metadata using the offset.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and a server system for transcoding a video source file into multiple target formats. The server system includes a first server configured to receive a first video chunk of the video source file and first attribute parameters corresponding to the first video chunk and a first target format of the multiple target formats where the first video chunk is transcoded into the first target format. The first attribute parameters include a first precoding parameter for the first video chunk and a first coding parameter for the first target format. The first server can process the first video chunk according to the first precoding parameter to obtain a first intermediate coding result and code the first intermediate coding result according to the first coding parameter to obtain a first final coding result in the first target format and output the first final coding result.

Abstract: A method in a networking environment to generate personalized data-streaming for a multimedia playback device is provided. The method includes deploying an ABR based data-streaming logic as a base-model at a multimedia playback device, obtaining parameters for a time duration based on a multimedia-playback at the multimedia playback device, obtaining a statistical mean for the parameters based on a first statistical analysis, identifying a parameter from the parameters by comparing the obtained mean against a threshold weight associated with the parameters in accordance with the base model, scaling the identified parameter in a predefined format as training, applying a second statistical analysis to the identified parameter of the playback device and another playback device for determining a covariance between both devices and determining a category of the playback device based on the covariance and deploying a version of the trained base model upon the playback device based on the category.

Abstract: Advertisements are tailored not only to a person's profile but also to the context in which the person finds himself. Thus, for example a video-based advertisement may be reformatted or reprovisioned in audio format when the person is driving, while an audio-based advertisement may be reformatted or reprovisioned to video format in noisy conditions.

Abstract: A display system includes a main display unit configured to display a video; a plurality of subordinate display units configured to display a plurality of videos, respectively; a detection unit configured to detect the number of viewers of the main display unit and the respective numbers of viewers of the plurality of subordinate display units; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to switch a video displayed on a subordinate display unit of the plurality of subordinate display units to the same video as a video displayed on the main display unit when the number of viewers of the main display unit detected by the detection unit is equal to or more than a first predetermined value and the number of viewers of the subordinate display unit is less than a second predetermined value.