Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium is provided for creating a blockchain instance and aligning the instance blockchain to a generic blockchain for tracking a multi-step process. Aspects of the invention comprise performing by a blockchain system: accessing data for the creation of a block in a blockchain instance; comparing said data with data associated with a block in a generic blockchain; and for each block in the generic blockchain where the data in the block corresponds to the accessed data, creating a block in the blockchain instance for the accessed data; and performing an alignment operation to indicate that the created block is equivalent to the block in the generic blockchain.

Abstract: A system and method for managing recording quality and device space utilization in a multicast adaptive bitrate (MABR) streaming network. Using a subscriber recording schedule and available storage capacity, a DVR recording scheduler and optimization node is operative to determine a bitrate cap for one or more programs scheduled to be recorded at a default or target recording device. A multicast ABR video management agent is operative for joining, responsive to the bitrate cap information and other information provided via a multicast ABR bandwidth policy manager, the recording device to respective service channels corresponding to the one or more programs at select bitrate representations that maximize or optimize bitrate quality of recording subject to the bitrate cap information.

Abstract: A video server receives an uploaded video and determines whether the video contains third-party content and which portions of the uploaded video match third-party content. The video server determines whether to degrade the matching portions and/or how (e.g., extent, type) to do so. The video server separates the matching portion from original portions in the uploaded video and generates a degraded version of the matching content by applying an effect such as compression, edge distortion, temporal distortion, noise addition, color distortion, or audio distortion. The video server combines the degraded portions with the original portions to output a degraded version of the uploaded video. The video server stores and/or distributes the degraded version of the uploaded video. The video server may offer the uploading user licensing terms with the content owner that the user may accept to reverse the degradation.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, by a processing device of a user device, a media item and storing the media item in a local store for offline playback of the media item on the user device, responsive to a user request to play the media item, identifying one or more offline playback settings associated with the media item, determining, based on the offline playback settings, whether the media item is to be played with an advertisement, and if the media item is to be played with the advertisement, providing playback of the media item from the local store with the advertisement on the user device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the light information obtained from a light sensor. Generating a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments. Identifying a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor. Adjusting a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.

Abstract: To provide an information processing apparatus capable of using an application seamlessly executable across channels of different broadcast stations. Identification information “common” that is common to all business operators can be set as an organization ID for specifying a business operator providing an application. In addition, when the common identification information “common” is set as an organization ID of an acquired XML-AIT, an application controller (508) does not judge that an activation of an application corresponding to the XML-AIT is unpermitted based on the organization ID. Accordingly, it becomes possible to use an application seamlessly executable across channels of different broadcast stations, such as an application for a rating survey.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating segmented content based on related ranking information are disclosed. Some embodiments include indexing audio information of primary content based on a first plurality of time segments, where the indexed audio information includes a plurality of audio identifiers; indexing video information of the primary content based on a second plurality of time segments, where the indexed video information includes a plurality of video identifiers, obtaining secondary data related to the primary content from an external source, generating identifying information corresponding to the secondary data and comparing the generated identifying information with the indexed audio information and video information, increasing a rank value associated with a segment of the primary content, and generating a media file corresponding to a segment associated with a highest rank value and storing the generated media file in a memory.

Abstract: A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided.

Abstract: A system for facilitating access to items of content presents recommendations to a user. Items of content may include movies and television shows. Recommendations may include access plans specifying a plurality of digital media services, where each specified digital media service provides availability to items of content included in a user defined set. Further, recommendations may be based on one or more use defined constraints. User defined constraints may include a user budget for accessing items of content during a specific time period.

Abstract: A method includes receiving broadcast fingerprints indicative of broadcast frames of broadcast media streams being streamed to a plurality of channels by a broadcaster and receiving television (TV) fingerprints indicative of an ordered sequence of TV frames of a TV media stream at a corresponding media device. The method further includes matching the TV fingerprints with the broadcast fingerprints by determining a difference between respective broadcast fingerprints and corresponding TV fingerprints of the ordered sequence of TV frames. The matching includes populating a binary tree structure with respective differences. The method also includes detecting a channel change of the media device from a first channel to a second channel in response to locating a value indicative of the channel change in the binary tree structure within a threshold number of children nodes from a root node upon traversing down the binary tree structure.

Abstract: A commercial detection system generates a probe audio fingerprint of an audio signal associated with a media stream on a broadcast channel and determines whether the media stream has commercial content based on analysis of the probe audio fingerprint. The commercial detection system determines whether a same match between the probe audio fingerprint and a reference audio fingerprint is observed across multiple broadcast channels. Responsive to the number of same matches exceeding a predetermined threshold, the commercial detection system determines that the media stream has commercial content. The commercial detection system may also apply a trained feature analysis model to extracted acoustic features of the audio signal. The commercial detection system determines whether the media stream has commercial content based on a confidence score assigned to the probe audio fingerprint. The commercial detection system reduces false positive detection using program guide information of the media stream.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for assessing viewing quality of media objects (e.g., advertisements) are provided. In one example, information regarding one or more delivery conditions of an advertisement that is served at a user device is received. Viewing quality of the advertisement is estimated based on the one or more delivery conditions. Information regarding one or more advertising pricing parameters related to the advertisement is received. The viewing quality of the advertisement and the one or more advertising pricing parameters are provided.

Abstract: A computer device may include logic configured to detect a change in a digital video recorder (DVR) recording list associated with a customer and generate an updated DVR recording list based on the detected change. The logic may be further configured to generate a schedule for an update notification for a DVR device associated with the customer and send an update notification to the DVR device associated with the customer based on the generated schedule.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include determining one or more frequently watched television channels associated with a customer's account. The method may further include obtaining content associated with the one or more frequently watched television channels via multicast transmission units from a video serving office associated with a television services provider; converting the multicast transmission units into video segments playable by a media playing device; storing the video segments in a cache associated with the computer device; detecting a selection of a television channel associated with the obtained content made via the media playing device; and providing the stored video segments to the media playing device, in response to detecting the selection of the television channel associated with the obtained content.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital television, the method includes displaying content or application being executed on a display screen of the digital television, receiving a first signal requesting a menu to be displayed, and displaying the requested menu, overlaid on the display screen, wherein the menu includes a first part and a second part, wherein the first part displays at least one menu item corresponding to previously displayed content or previously executed application, and wherein the second part displays at least one menu item corresponding to content or an application executable in the digital television.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating caching of programming data are provided herein, including receiving two or more programming data portions, storing the respective programming data portions, managing access to a storage component or a communication component based on programming data portions stored within the storage component, merging programming data portions with a database, and generating a sleep signal based on a period of inactivity which exceeds an inactivity threshold. In one or more embodiments, caching of programming data may include determining a programming data set based on user profile data, parsing the programming data set into two or more programming data portions, converting respective programming data portions into a binary format, transmitting a first programming data portion of the respective programming data portions, and transmitting additional programming data portions of the respective programming data portions based on a sleep signal.

Abstract: A method of sharing recording capability on a network, the network having a server supporting at least a recording DVR and a receiving DVR, the recording and receiving DVRs being in different households, the method comprising: (a) determining that the receiving DVR is unable to record the content at a certain time; and (b) identifying that the recording DVR is able to provide the receiving DVR with a recording of the content; (c) recording the content on the recording DVR at the certain time; and (d) transmitting the content from the recording DVR to the receiving DVR after the certain time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording multiple broadcast television programs to a single file may include receiving user selection for recording a first media content and a second media content, determining the first media content and the second media content are provided on a single television service, and tuning to the television service to receive the first media content via a tuner of the television receiver. The systems and methods may include recording the first media content as a first permanent recording to a master file, receiving the second media content via the tuner of the television receiver, and recording the second media content as a second permanent recording to the master file.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for assessing viewing quality of media objects (e.g., advertisements) are provided. In one example, information regarding one or more delivery conditions of an advertisement that is served at a user device is received. Viewing quality of the advertisement is estimated based on the one or more delivery conditions. Information regarding one or more advertising pricing parameters related to the advertisement is received. The viewing quality of the advertisement and the one or more advertising pricing parameters are provided.