Abstract: In some embodiments, communication and/or media user interfaces associated with a synchronized media and communication session can be displayed at one or more devices. In some embodiments, a first electronic device can join and/or add media content to a synchronized media and communication session when an associated second electronic device is part of the synchronized media and communication session.

Abstract: A context-driven voice-control system and method for enabling users to control customer service activities related to live broadcast programming, recorded programming, streaming programming, and on-demand programming using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method may also enable users to control one or more of account management activities using vocal selection by the user, authentication to authorize changes to their account using vocal selection by the user, and troubleshooting of equipment and system capabilities using vocal selection by the user. The context-driven voice-control system and method dynamically generates and presents a list of available control and support pathways to a user based on the user attributes and the voice control requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a content item banner for display based on a session type and a content item type. A user profile is accessed at a computing device, and a session type associated with consumption of at least a content item of a plurality of content items is determined based on the user profile. A content item type associated with the plurality of content items is determined, and a content item banner for a subsequent content item of the plurality of content items is identified based on the session type and the content item type. The content item banner is generated for display.

Abstract: The synthetic broadcast system and method according to the present invention contemplates a system of interactive devices within a wireless personal area network, near-me area network, or local area network, and at least one of which devices is configured to enable the user to generate audiovisual content and contribute the user-generated content to one or more virtual watch parties or synthetic broadcasts. A smart television and a mobile device together operate over a local area network or short-range wireless communication channel(s) to generate or parse the playback and routing instructions of state-of-the-art synthetic rebroadcast mechanisms. The system according to the present invention adds a novel mechanism for displaying real-time user generated video and audio content within the virtual watch parties attending to or consuming the content of the watch parties by way of the smart television and mobile device components.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for analog-to-digital conversion systems and methods with pulse generators. In one example, an imaging system includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes a comparator configured to generate a comparator output signal based on a first signal and a second signal. The comparator output signal is associated with a first state or a second state. The ADC further includes a pulse generator coupled to the comparator. The pulse generator is configured to generate a pulse signal in response to a transition of the comparator output signal from the first state to the second state. The ADC further includes a memory device coupled to the pulse generator. The memory device is configured to capture a counter value from a counter circuit in response to the pulse signal. The counter value is associated with the detector signal. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content items with aggregated timed reactions are provided.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for automated generation of banner images are disclosed. A program identifier associated with a particular media program may be received by a system, and used for accessing a set of iconic digital images and corresponding metadata associated with the particular media program. The system may select a particular iconic digital image for placing a banner of text associated with the particular media program, by applying an analytical model of banner-placement criteria to the iconic digital images. The system may apply another analytical model for banner generation to the particular iconic image to determine (i) dimensions and placement of a bounding box for containing the text, (ii) segmentation of the text for display within the bounding box, and (iii) selection of font, text size, and font color for display of the text. The system may store the particular iconic digital image and banner metadata specifying the banner.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed, comprising a multiple-lens camera, a vertex list generator and an image processing apparatus. The multiple-lens camera captures a X-degree horizontal field of view (FOV) and a Y-degree vertical FOV to generate multiple lens images, where X<=360, Y<=180. The vertex list generator generates a first main vertex list according to a correspondence table, and generates a first region of interest (ROI) vertex list according to the first main vertex list and a position information of the ROI when the ROI overlaps at least one measuring region inside an overlap region in a projection image. The image processing apparatus generates the projection image according to the multiple lens images and a second main vertex list related to first main vertex list in a rendering mode.

Abstract: This application discloses a video source switching method, a playing method, an apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The video source switching method includes obtaining switching information; determining a first key frame of a first video source according to the switching information, the first key frame being a next key frame of a current playing time of the first video source; querying a first time value of the first key frame; identifying a second video source according to the switching information; and switching video sources if a distance between a current time value of the second video source and the first time value is less than or equal to a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating an augmented reality display for users of augmented reality devices. Features provided in the AR displays may be used to update a non-augmented reality display. In addition, interactions in the AR displays may also be incorporated into the non-augmented reality display.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a system for obtaining enriched channel tracking data from a set-top box (STB). Channel information associated with channels viewed by at least one viewer on a display device associated with the STB is accessed. It is determined whether the microphone has captured one or more voice signals in vicinity of the STB prior to detection of an occurrence of a predefined event. Further, voice biometric data is extracted from each captured voice signal to configure viewer demographic data when the microphone has captured the one or more voice signals. The viewer demographic data is configured based at least on identifying viewer information corresponding to the voice biometric data. The viewer demographic data is correlated with channel tracking data corresponding to the detected predefined event to generate a payload. The data packet including the payload is transmitted to a remote server.

Abstract: In some implementations, a system can be configured to allow remote control devices to quietly obtain status information related to various audio/video playback devices. For example, a streaming device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can establish a streaming connection to a playback device. The playback device can be configured to only accept a single streaming connection (i.e., master connection). A remote control device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can quietly connect (i.e., control connection) to the playback device without interrupting the master connection to obtain status information related to the playback device and or the media being streamed to the playback device. The remote control device can provide commands through the control connection to adjust the playback of the streamed media at the playback device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques of processing bullet comments. The techniques comprise obtaining a page of playing a video for outputting a video stream; obtaining a plurality of pieces of bullet comment data associated with the video stream; and performing a bullet comment processing operation with a predetermined time interval, where the bullet comment processing operation includes performing bullet comment processing at a logical layer on the plurality of pieces of bullet comment data. In the embodiments of the present application, a balanced time interval may be set as the predetermined time interval to regularly perform a bullet comment processing operation, so that smoothness of displaying bullet comments and proper use of computing resources are ensured.

Abstract: A system for controlling turning on and off of closed captioning receives information regarding a program content stream and automatically determines whether to turn on or off closed captioning based on thresholds being crossed regarding an estimated current loudness level of ambient noise and an estimated current loudness level of the audio of the program content stream. The estimated current loudness level of audio of the program content stream is, or is based on, one or more indications of current volume level in an audio signal representing the audio of the program content stream and current audio settings of a device outputting the audio of the program content stream. The system may estimate the loudness level of the ambient noise by use of a loudness meter that causes the ambient noise to be sampled with a microphone and a decibel level of the sampled ambient noise to be determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating media program keywords based on a video-hosting website are disclosed herein. Control circuitry identifies, on the video-hosting website, video content items that include at least a portion of a media program. The media program has a media program identifier and the video content items have respective titles, each including one or more terms. The control circuitry identifies a term included in more than one of the titles and identifies a group of the video content items that have the term included in their title. Based on the video-hosting website, the control circuitry determines a cumulative number of rankings of the video content items within the group and generates a relevance score for the term based on the cumulative number of rankings. The control circuitry stores the term and the relevance score in a keyword database in association with the media program identifier.

Abstract: A method and a system for creating a television menu with multiple settings are provided. A television control circuit is used in a television device. The television control circuit performs the method. A memory is provided for storing multiple television menu settings with respect to multiple clients' demands. When the television device is activated, the television control circuit performs a menu-loading sequence that loads one of the television menu settings from the memory. The television control circuit parses the television menu setting and obtains control tags and corresponding setting parameters. The television menu is initiated and displayed on the television device based on the control tags and the setting parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for performing auxiliary search on streaming media content. The techniques according to the present disclosure may comprise streaming media content to a display of a user and, receiving at least one query associated with a frame of the streamed media content. The techniques further comprise comparing the at least one query with metadata associated with the streamed media content to generate one or more results, and providing the one or more generated results to the display.

Abstract: A method for searching an AD insertion position includes following steps: S1. identifying a human body area in a video image; S2. identifying a blank wall area in the video image; and S3. determining the AD insertion position in the blank wall area in the video image, so that the AD insertion position intersects the human body area. A method for automatically inserting an advertisement AD in a video includes following steps: determining an AD insertion position in the video by searching a product AD insertion position based on deep learning, and inserting the AD on the position. Through the method, an appropriate position for an AD can be automatically searched on a blank wall part in the video. In addition, the inserted AD can be presented in the video in a natural way, and thereby avoiding or reducing the impact of AD insertion on impression of the video.

Abstract: System and methods for facilitating content watch parties may include a sync server having a server CPU, a host user device, a client user device, and a content provider. The content provider may first provide a first portion of the content independently to the host user device and the client user device. The content provider may second provide a second portion of the content to the host user device and the client user device. The first providing of the first portion of the content may occur separately of the second providing of the second portion of the content. The sync server may synchronize the second providing of the second portion of the content to the client user device to facilitate substantially simultaneously presentations of the second portion of the content by the host user device and the client user device.

Abstract: An intelligent television system provides an operating system and an application framework for controlling a user interface to handle user input events from a handheld remote control. The remote control includes color keys that are configured for triggering different functions in different application panels displayed on the television.