Abstract: Systems and methods for providing variable trick-play mode playback of media content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. A playback device stores images of the media content associated with presentation times and marker information for the media content that indicates the presentation time of moments of interest. When a trick-play mode is invoked, the playback device determines a presentation time of a next marker in the playback. The playback device determines whether the current presentation time of the playback is within a specified range of the presentation time of the next marker and adjusts the speed of the trick-play playback based on the determination. The next frame to present is determined based on the adjusted speed of the trick-play playback and displayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transmitting broadcast signals. The method includes, formatting input streams into Data Pipe (DP) data, Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) encoding the DP data according to a code rate, bit interleaving the LDPC encoded DP data, mapping the bit interleaved DP data onto constellations, building at least one signal frame including the mapped DP data, and modulating data in the built signal frame by an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method and transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data, wherein the input streams include Audio/Video (A/V) data and service guide data, and wherein the Audio/Video (A/V) data and service guide data are included in first ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF) files.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying and classifying audience reactions during a playback of a media item. In one embodiment, among others, a computing device is used to identify a reaction event from sensor data of a participant consuming a playback of a media item. The reaction event is correlated with a point in time of the media item. A reaction classification for the reaction event is determined based on the sensor data, and the reaction classification is associated with the point in time of the media item.

Abstract: Example embodiments facilitate user-initiated transitioning between versions of media content. In an example embodiment, a content access device receives a first version of a plurality of versions of a media content item via a communication network from a media content source, and causes presentation of the first version via a display device. During the receiving of the first version, the media content device receives a first request for a second version of the media content item. In response to the first request, the content access device transmits a second request to the media content source to begin receiving the second version. After the transmitting of the second request, the content access device receives the second version for display beginning at a point in the second version related to a point in the first version last received from the media content source.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide devices or systems configured to receive indications of geographic areas, each corresponding to distribution networks, and determine whether the distribution networks overlap. The processor(s) may also be configured to receive parameter value(s) obtained by a device within one distribution network at a location within an overlapping area, and cause device(s) within another distribution network to modify operation based on the parameter value(s). In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide devices that include a voltage sensor to measure a voltage of a power distribution network at a power consumption location that corresponds to the device. The device may be configured to provide at least one cable service to the power consumption location via a cable television (CATV) distribution network and output an indication the measured voltage value.

Abstract: An image recognition based interactive control system and method for a smart television. The system comprises: an image acquisition module for acquiring a card image; a gesture recognition module for recognizing a gesture of a user holding a card and outputting a gesture recognition result, wherein the gesture recognition result is channel switching, program selecting or content searching; a card recognition module for recognizing the content of the card image and outputting a card recognition result; and an interactive control module for performing a relevant interactive operation according to the gesture recognition result and the card recognition result.

Abstract: A method for ad delivery placements to consumer devices within managed service provider networks comprising the following steps is provided. providing Real-time, targeted video advertisements delivery to at least one consumer device is provided across multiple content delivery services accessible to viewers. A unified system capable of simultaneous targeting and delivery of a video advertisement is supported across multiple content delivery platforms to one more consumer devices. Delivery of the targeted video advertisements is supported to managed service provider devices. Efficient IP delivery of video advertisements is supported to service provider managed networks of consumer devices. Real-time targeted advertisements to all IP connected devices and managed consumer devices are supported based on targeting criteria.

Abstract: A method of processing media output events, each having a corresponding duration, from a plurality of media content receivers within a media distribution system, comprises: a. dividing the output events into a plurality of segments, such that output events having similar properties are placed into the same one of said segments; b. within each said segment, identifying a long duration threshold based on the distribution of the durations of the output events within that segment; c. and applying the long duration thresholds of each said segment for control and/or analysis of the media distribution system.

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: The present disclosure discloses a method for adjusting a virtual reality (VR) scene. The method includes pre-storing a plurality of VR theme-scenes, and determining feature information corresponding to the VR theme-scenes; obtaining a movie and television work selected by a user to be played. The method also includes determining feature information of the selected movie and television work; and determining a VR theme-scene corresponding to the selected movie and television work from the plurality of VR theme-scenes, according to the feature information of the selected movie and television work and the feature information of the VR theme-scene.

Abstract: A method of operating a transmitting apparatus in a multimedia system is provided. The method includes transmitting a data unit of a multimedia service including event information related to an event, wherein the event includes notification to an application, the notification indicating that an action is to be taken.

Abstract: An imager captures images of a living subject including a near-infrared image, an infrared image, or both. A processor is connected to the imager and an output device. The processor is configured to generate output images of vasculature of the living subject from the images captured by the imager, include in the output images a range of discrete scale comparator objects of different sizes, and provide the output images to the output device for display to a user.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for identifying a media content stream when the media content stream is playing an unscheduled media segment. A computing device may receive a plurality of media content streams, where at least two of the plurality of media content streams concurrently includes a same unscheduled media segment. The computing device may determine that the media display device is playing the unscheduled media segment by examining the media content available at the current time in each of the plurality of media content streams. The computing device may determine identification information from the media content included in the media content stream. The computing device may determine contextually-related content, which may be disabled while the unscheduled media segment is being played by the media display device. The computing device may display the media content stream and the contextually-related content after the unscheduled media segment has been played.

Abstract: Various arrangements for providing a multichannel viewing event are presented. A definition of the multichannel viewing event may be transmitted to multiple television receivers. A television receiver may, as part of an electronic programming guide, provide a single-selection option to activate the multichannel viewing event based on the definition. In response to receiving user input that selects the single-selection option, the definition of the multichannel viewing event is accessed. The television receiver may output the television channels defined in the definition of the multichannel viewing event. A video stream that includes live feeds of multiple television channels may then be output to a display device for simultaneous presentation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a content providing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a recording medium thereof, the content providing apparatus including: a transmitter configured to transmit data to a display apparatus; and a processor configured to control the transmitter to transmit content data and additional data, relating to image attributes of the content data and having a fixed value corresponding to at least one section, among a plurality of sections of the content data, to the display apparatus based on a command received from a user to playback image content at a predetermined speed. Thus, it is possible to solve a problem of flickering or an error in brightness of a screen at a variable-speed playback of dynamic HDR content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing media presentations that include content originating from multiple sources. Techniques disclosed include server-side logic for inserting secondary content, such as advertisements, into primary content, such as a VOD presentation. Systems implementing the disclosed techniques can support different viewer device capabilities relating to displaying media presentations that include content from multiple sources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing control over targeted secondary content based on a zone associated with a user. In one exemplary embodiment, a user request for primary content from a non-legacy device results in the delivery of the same secondary content which would have been provided had the request been generated at a legacy device (so-called “zone preservation”). To accomplish this, the devices are associated with a user's zone at a zone preservation server in communication with the server providing content to the devices. The zone preservation server associates each user with an advertisement zone identifier, and utilizes the identifier to direct the delivery of primary and secondary content. In another embodiment, a prescribed rule set for one or more zones is employed, such as where certain types of advertisements or secondary content are inserted given a particular device or user context.

Abstract: A host device (300) provides wireless docking to a dockee device (250). The host has a remote client unit (210) for providing at least one audio/video (AV) rendering function to an application (252) via remote server unit (251) in a dockee device. The host has transfer units (211,212,213,214) arranged for enabling transmitting a downstream of first AV data to the dockee device, and receiving an upstream of second AV data to be rendered from the dockee device. The host device has an AV router (310) for processing the downstream and the upstream so as to replace first AV data in the downstream by a predetermined pattern before transmitting the downstream to the dockee device, and replace at least part of second AV data in the upstream by at least part of the first AV data after receiving the upstream from the dockee device and before rendering the AV data. Advantageously required bandwidth is reduced in the wireless communication.

Abstract: A live broadcast is depicted, in this case a golf tournament. The broadcast is depicted on a television screen of a user, substantially in real time. In a television studio, which may be close to the site of the live broadcast, or may be remote therefrom, a commentator or pundit records segments of video analysis. The video image is sent to a server. The video clip of the commentator is then downloadable by the user using a device such as a mobile phone or tablet. The user can then view the additional content—the video segment of the commentator—on his device. Using the techniques of positioning and anchoring as described herein, the user can enjoy the video segment as though the commentator were present in the room, by viewing the room through a camera of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for performing SAG effect compensation on a video signal received over an AC-coupled video link. In one aspect, a method for performing SAF effect compensation includes applying a filter to the received video signal to generate a corrected video signal, where a transfer function of the filter is dependent on a transmission parameter that is based on a plurality of parameters of the AC-coupled link. The method further includes extracting predefined content from the corrected video signal, and adjusting the transmission parameter based on a comparison of the extracted predefined content with certain expected content, so that adjusted transmission parameter can be used for one or more subsequent applications of the filter, thereby realizing an adaptive filter.