Abstract: A first networked device may perform operations including receiving, from a media source device, a first media stream and a first media stream identifier. The first networked device may receive the first media stream via a wireless network connection. Operations may further include receiving, from a second networked device, a second media stream identifier that corresponds to a second media stream the second networked device is receiving from the media source device. Operations may further include determining a common stream characteristic between the first media stream and the second media stream and, in response to determining the common stream characteristic, grouping the second networked device with the first networked device. Operations may further include transmitting, to a controller device, an indication that the first networked device and second networked device are grouped.

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated process allow automatic replacement of advertisements or other content in previously-broadcast television programs. A content management system or the like operating on a digital network receives indicia from playback devices that have encountered identified advertisements that are stored in digital video recorders or that are otherwise contained within previously-broadcast television programs. The encounters are recorded in a database for subsequent analysis. If desired, the previously-broadcast advertisements may be replaced with more relevant or engaging advertisements prior to playback to the viewer, thereby allowing a fresher, more relevant and more engaging experience for the viewer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system to provide the ability for a user to make audio and/or audio-video phone calls simultaneously while watching (co-viewing) provider video content in remote locations. A control system is provided to set up call, direct provider video content, and provide for the phone calls and video content to be delivered and then synchronized. The phone calls may be routed by the control system to PSTN destinations or Internet based destinations and calls made or received may be bridged to other Internet based sources. The provider video content may be provided directly from its source or routed through NAT traversal or through the control system.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes using, at least in part, an amount of content-presentation devices in the identified group as a basis to determine an amount of system resources to request. The method also includes requesting the determined amount of system resources for use in performing actions that facilitate at least a portion of the content-presentation devices in the identified group performing respective content-modification operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for receiving a first request, associated with a first user profile, to record a content item, and storing, at a server and based on the first request, a first copy of the content item, accessible via the first user profile. A second request to record the content item may be received, associated with a second user profile, and content consumption history associated with the second user profile may be identified. Based on such content consumption history, a determination may be made to refrain from storing a second copy of the content item based on the second request. In response to receiving a request, associated with the second user profile, to access the content item, the content item may be played at a device associated with the second user profile based on the stored first copy of the content item.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for synchronizing playback of a video at a plurality of client-side nodes in a network including a server-side node and the plurality of client-side nodes. The system includes logic to receive a sync video message at the server from a first client-side node identifying a sync event time. The system includes logic to map the sync event time at the server to a sync frame identifier. The server sends a follower sync video message to a follower set of one or more other client-side nodes including the sync frame identifier. In response to the follower sync video message the one or more client-side nodes in the follower set can synchronize playing the video at a frame corresponding to the sync frame identifier.

Abstract: A method is provided including receiving a planned route of a vehicle and a request to download content from a cloud server, the planned route traveling through an area covered by a plurality of edge servers, determining a state comprising possible connections between the vehicle and each of the plurality of edge servers at a plurality of time steps during the planned route, inputting the state to a trained model, the model being trained to output an action comprising a partition of the content across the plurality of edge servers that minimizes latency of transmission of the content from the cloud server to the vehicle via the plurality of edge servers, based on the state, and partitioning the content across the plurality of edge servers based on the action out by the trained mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein such that, a media guidance application presents, in an interactive program guide, a virtual content source for binge watching a program series. The media guidance application may determine a program series a user is currently watching. The media guidance application may receive a user selection of a media asset. The media guidance application may determine a length of time between a current time and a start time of the media asset. The media guidance application may determine the next episodes of the program series the user can watch before the start time of the media asset and present them using a virtual content source.

Abstract: A media client ascertains a plurality of matching points between (i) query fingerprints representing a media stream being received by the client and (ii) reference fingerprints, each identified matching point defining a respective match between a query fingerprint that is timestamped with client time defined according to a clock of the client and a reference fingerprint that is timestamped with true time defined according to a timeline within a known media stream. Further, the client performs linear regression based on the timestamps of the ascertained plurality of matching points, to establish a mapping between true time and client time. The client then uses the established mapping as a basis to determine a client-time point at which the client should perform an action with respect to media stream being received by the client. And the client performs the action at the determined client-time point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for video transmission using tokens. According to one example, computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions, which when executed by a computer having at least one processor, cause the computer to: generate a video including an animation of an avatar object of a distributor generated on the basis of motion data regarding a motion of the distributor and an animation of a token object given by a viewer to the distributor operating according to a predetermined rule; and transmit, toward a plurality of viewer terminals via a communication line, coordinate data including data regarding coordinates of the token object associated with a reference time, and audio data regarding a voice of the distributor associated with the reference time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and an apparatus for pushing information, a method and an apparatus for controlling presentation of content. The method for pushing information includes: determining vehicle information of a communicatively connected autonomous vehicle, the vehicle information including autonomous vehicle driving route information; selecting to-be-played content matching the vehicle information from a pre-stored set of to-be-played contents according to the vehicle information, and storing the elected to-be-played content to the sub-set of to-be-played contents; and transmitting the sub-set of to-be-played contents to the autonomous vehicle so that the autonomous vehicle plays the to-be-played content in the sub-set of to-be-played contents. According to the embodiment, targeted to-be-played content can be sent to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Within an advertising buying platform, advertising buyers are able to direct advertising content to TV/OTT/VOD inventory that matches targeted market segments. The advertising buyers select from a list of available market segments, and the system pairs the market segments to an anonymous dataset of media consumers (using a database of hashed online IDs). The dataset of hashed online IDs is then mapped to external OEM IDs (such as from a Smart TV) via the functions of a hashed identity mapping method. This permits the advertiser to target advertising content to a population of TV viewers. Also described herein are methods of bidding on programmatic TV content.

Abstract: Embodiments of content management systems in which compression and decompression may be performed at the client in cases where the client device or application may be capable of such compression and decompression while still allowing compression to be performed at the content management system when client devices or applications are unable to perform such compression or decompression are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a remote control for activating a predetermined function of a multimedia converter, in particular a set-top box, by means of a predetermined command, including: a keypad for entering the predetermined command by a user, a signal processing unit for converting the entered predetermined command into control data suitable to activate the predetermined function of the multimedia converter, and a transmission interface for transmitting the control data to the multimedia converter, characterized by a further data receiving interface different from the keypad for receiving setup data of a further device different from the multimedia converter, wherein the data receiving interface is arranged to configure the signal processing device and/or the multimedia converter in dependence on the setup data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing distributed content to a mobile device (e.g., in a mobile vehicle) through multiple content access points along a particular route are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive a selection of media content and a selection of a particular route from a plurality of routes to enable navigation of a mobile vehicle from a start point to an end point calculated based on at least a number of content access points along each route. A computing device may divide the media content into a plurality of segments and send each segment to a respective planned content access point of a plurality of planned content access points along the particular route. In some embodiments, a mobile computing device within a mobile vehicle may receive a segment from each planned content access point to enable continuous uninterrupted playback of the media content.

Abstract: A transmission method includes generating one or more frames for content transfer using IP (Internet Protocol) packets, and transmitting the one or more generated frames by broadcast. Each of the one or more frames contains a plurality of second transfer units, each of the plurality of second transfer units contains one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units contains at least one of the IP packets. An object IP packet of the IP packets which is stored in a first transfer unit positioned at a head in the one or more frames contains reference clock information that indicates time for reproduction of the content in data structure different from data structure of an MMT (MPEG Media Transport) packet, and header compression processing on the object IP packet is omitted.

Abstract: The systems and method disclosed herein address introduce identifiers within the individual entitlement management messages (EMMs) addressed to that client that uniquely identify the combination of system and subscriber account to which the client is deployed, and use of them to issue automatic ‘factory reset’ behavior when the client is re-authorized for the new subscriber. In one embodiment, the EMM messages used to trigger the reset behavior are cryptographically signed specifically for the individual client to ensure that such a message cannot be maliciously sent by an untrusted third party. The facility to deliver such a message is already available within the conditional access system (CAS).

Abstract: Systems, devices and automated process allow automatic replacement of advertisements or other content in previously-broadcast television programs. A content management system or the like operating on a digital network receives indicia from playback devices that have encountered identified advertisements that are stored in digital video recorders or that are otherwise contained within previously-broadcast television programs. The encounters are recorded in a database for subsequent analysis. If desired, the previously-broadcast advertisements may be replaced with more relevant or engaging advertisements prior to playback to the viewer, thereby allowing a fresher, more relevant and more engaging experience for the viewer.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating encoded timed media data into at least a first and a second track belonging to one same group of tracks, said media data corresponding to one or more video sequences made up of full frames. The method includes for at least first or second track providing descriptive information about the spatial relationship of a first spatial part of one frame encapsulated in the first track. A second spatial part of said frame encapsulated in the second track, wherein said descriptive information, shared by the tracks belonging to a same group of tracks, indicates whether the region, covered by both the first and the second spatial parts, forms a full frame or not.

Abstract: A method of communicating an alert includes: encoding data received from a plurality of sources by a central content controller (CCC) and determining existence of one or more alerts. If no alerts exist, the encoded data is assigned as streams to subchannels. For existing alerts, a market area (MA) is determined and the alert is assigned as a stream to a data subchannel and the encoded data is assigned as streams to remaining subchannels. For each MA without an applicable alert, the encoded data is assigned as streams to the subchannels. The assigned data is transmitted to regional controllers (RCs) for broadcasting to the associated MAs.