Abstract: A media content packaging and distribution system that handles distribution of channels to be viewed on consumer devices receives a media feed and a first programming schedule of a first channel from a source device, and receives audience-based parameters from an external data source over a distribution system. Media items to be inserted in the media feed of the first channel are determined based on the audience-based parameters and defined parameters. The determined media items in the media feed of the first channel are dynamically scheduled for delivery over the distribution system to be viewed on one or more of the consumer devices, based on the received audience-based parameters and the defined parameters. The audience-based parameters include demographics data, targeted audience data, and/or device type and the data received from the external data source includes trending information of media items currently trending in one or more social network platforms.

Abstract: A method and system for authoring templates for personalized video message campaigns in general, and personalized TV commercial campaigns in particular. The invention allows for campaign templates to be authored and edited in such a way that commercials can be automatically generated later on in the process, when the target audience and context are known, while at the same time adhering to the existing (post) production workflows and tools. The invention maintains assembly information for messages in a format that allows easy assembly of variations of commercials at any point in the creation, editing, post-production and delivery process.

Abstract: Information may be presented on a display device about program content substantially concurrently, substantially contemporaneously, or otherwise in conjunction with the presented program, or with portions of the presented program. This presentation of information about program content may occur dynamically in response to a voice query or other query from a user while the presented program is playing or paused on the same or different presentation device on which the information about the program content is being presented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software technology for optimizing the streaming video to end points while maintaining low latency. In an implementation, a streaming service receives video data for distribution to a plurality of end points. For each end point, the service streams the video data at a given bit rate to the end point. While the video is being streamed, the service sends test data to the end point at an additional bit rate. The service also increases the additional bit rate of the test data until a threshold decline in quality of the video data occurs or until a total bit rate of the video data and the test data reaches a next available bit rate for the video data. The service conditionally switches from the given bit rate to the next available bit rate if the total bit rate has reached the next available bit rate.

Abstract: A smart control system may determine whether a user is engaged with an electronic device, capture a lip sequence of the user for a period of time in response to determining that user is engaged with the electronic device, generate reduce sequence based on the captured lip sequence, determining an application with which the user is engaged, determine a current operating state of the application with which the user is engaged, determine commands that are applicable to the current operating state of the application, and determine whether the generated reduction sequence matches a comparison sequence associated with one of the determined commands. The smart control system may send a command associated with a matching comparison sequence to the application/electronic device in response to determining that the generated reduction sequence matches a comparison sequence associated with one of the determined commands.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed. An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.

Abstract: A method, system and non-transitory computer readable media for dynamically configuring device settings. The equipment device (e.g., set-to box, TV or the like) stores in a memory a plurality of settings profiles, wherein each settings profile is a structured data set related to a wearable computing device including at least a device identifier associated with the related wearable computing device and one or more device settings. The equipment device detects a wearable computing device, wherein detecting the wearable computing device includes identifying a specific device identifier associated with the detected wearable computing device. A querying module of the equipment device executes a query on the memory to identify a specific settings profile where the included device identifier corresponds to the specific device identifier. The equipment device adjusts the device settings based on the one or more device settings included in the identified specific settings profile.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to technologies for providing over the top streaming for one or more clients of a network. A network is formed among the network among customer premises equipment. The customer premises equipment may include at least a gateway and the one or more clients. A user selection for over the top (OTT) content is received. The OTT content is received and includes one or more cue points. The gateway is marked as a proxy server in response to receiving the one or more cue points. Proxy data is received from the gateway corresponding to the one or more cue points.

Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus which includes an input device having a plurality of video signal terminals including a digital video signal terminal, a display configured to display an input signal which is input from the input device, and a controller configured to set a search time of a digital video signal in accordance with presence or absence of power supply to a power supply terminal of the digital video signal terminal, and a connection status in a case in which the power supply is present, and configured to execute a search of the digital video signal in the search time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a size of a buffer based on a probability that a rewind request will be received during a currently playing segment of media. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is likely, the system will increase the size of a buffer such that the rewind request can be accommodated using data from the buffer. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is unlikely, the system will decrease the size of the buffer to free resources for other system components.

Abstract: A fantasy sports interleaver may include a video segmenting device to create a plurality of video clips, a clip annotator to associate each of the plurality of video clips with at least one of achievement of an athlete, and an interleaver to associate and transmit at least some of the plurality of video clips to each of a plurality of users. The interleaver may interface with a fantasy sports platform hosting the fantasy team of the user, as well as incoming audio/video feeds from content providers, and content feeds from advertisers. In an “active bench” fantasy environment, users frequently move athletes of the user's fantasy team between “bench” and “field” to take advantage of a constantly evolving situation on actual fields of play. A user interfaces allows fantasy team control, provides updated video clips indicating potential opportunities, and updated rosters indicating whether athletes in non-fantasy games are benched or fielded.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the video data of the digital broadcast program, the program-cooperation data, and the screen layout control information; a video generating unit configured to divide a video display region for a video to be outputted into a plurality of regions on the basis of the screen layout control information, arrange program video information and other information in each of the plurality of regions, and generate video information; a display unit configured to display the output video information; and a control unit which can, where there is no effective screen layout control information control the video generating unit so as not to divide the video display region and to generate the program video information as the output video information until effective screen layout control information is obtained.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for employing automatic content recognition to allow resumption of watching interrupted media program from television broadcast. The method includes detecting a viewing cessation of a media program on a channel of a media device. A television broadcaster provides media content including the channel. The channel includes the media program. The method also includes, in response to detecting the viewing cessation of the media program, identifying the channel, the media program, the television broadcaster, and a location of the viewing cessation within the media program. The method further includes detecting a viewing recommencement of the channel of the media device. In response to detecting the viewing recommencement, the method includes overlaying a selectable indicator on the channel. The selectable indicator is configured to receive a selection input to resume viewing of the media program starting at the location of the viewing cessation of the media program.

Abstract: A system and method for playing back video feeds includes determining from the video feeds a subset of currently available video feeds, determining a playback layout based on the number of currently available video feeds and playing back the subset of currently available video feeds within the playback layout. The system and method further includes determining at least one change in availability in a given video feed of the plurality of video feeds, updating the subset of currently available video feeds based on the at least one change, updating the playback layout based on the updated subset of currently available video feeds and playing back the updated subset of currently available video feeds within the updated playback layout.

Abstract: Various arrangements for generating thumbnail images for video content as the video content is being received are presented. Video content may be initially received. A thumbnail generation process may be woken from a sleep state based on a predefined time period elapsing. The received video content may be monitored for a next-received I-frame. A thumbnail image may be created from the I-frame and may be mapped to a timestamp. The thumbnail generation process may then be caused to enter the sleep state for the predefined time period.

Abstract: The approach disclosed herein allows an end user to seamlessly switch and enjoy different versions of the same composition in a broadcast with one simple user action or gesture such as, for example, a swipe, button, click, or other user action. In particular, by utilizing a plurality of instances of an automation playback system or database with identical media libraries containing different versions of the same compositions, running the different versions of a selected composition locked together, and utilizing mechanics within the application, site, or platform, the user can switch between, for example, an uncensored and censored version of the same composition in real time.

Abstract: A method of providing customized commercial content to a user includes providing first commercial content to a user, determining, using an integrated virtual environment device, whether the user substantially viewed the first commercial content, and providing second commercial content to the user based on the first commercial content and whether the user substantially viewed the first commercial content.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and reception apparatus for extracting metadata, and an information providing apparatus for providing the metadata. The method for extracting metadata includes processing, by circuitry of the reception apparatus, content that includes the metadata embedded therein. The metadata is embedded as a watermark in a first portion of a video frame of the content. The circuitry determines symbol values of the watermark from the video frame based on luminance values in pixels of the first portion of the video frame of the content to extract the metadata. At least one of the luminance values is less than 16.

Abstract: Systems and methods for, while a user is consuming a first media asset, generating for the user a recommendation of a second media asset based on a viewing history of the user. In some aspects, the systems and methods determine that a user is consuming only video of a first media asset, determine a first category for the first media asset, and retrieve a viewing history corresponding to the user. The viewing history comprises media assets consumed simultaneously with a media asset corresponding to the first category. The systems and methods select a second category corresponding to a highest number of media assets in the viewing history, select a second media asset based on the second category. Alternatively, the user can select the second media asset manually. The systems and methods generate for output the audio of the second media asset for simultaneous consumption with the video of the first media asset.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal, includes a receiver configured to receive the broadcast signal, a parser configured to parse signaling information for a service scan included in the broadcast signal, a link layer processor configured to process a link layer packet included in the broadcast signal, and an audio/video (A/V) processor configured to present broadcast contents based on the signaling information for the service scan and the link layer packet.