Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing dynamic compensation for delays over extant infrastructure within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and the infrastructure comprises that nominally used for on-demand (OD) services such as VOD. The method includes periodically or situationally assessing variable delays within the system associated with functional commands (such as “trick mode” commands), and dynamically compensating for these variable delays in order to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the user's trick mode command. This approach increases user satisfaction, and obviates the issuance of additional compensatory trick mode commands that only further degrade the performance of the network.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating tuner resources in a multi-room digital video recording system, wherein the system includes a server device having a plurality of tuners therein and a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners. A second client in communication client device generates a tuner request. The server device allocates the first tuner to the second user device and communicates a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a computer-generated method for optimizing placement of advertising content across multiple different devices. The system can allocate advertising campaigns and plans to various inventory types based on the probability of accurate consumer matching. Consumer matching can be achieved by generation of look-alike models in a consumer's device graph to predict future consumption behavior. The system includes an interface through which an advertiser can access relevant information about inventory and success of a given placement.

Abstract: The timing of an un-interruptible process in a set top box or other device can be automatically adjusted in response to user inputs to improve the user experience. A user instruction is received at an input of the user device that causes an uninterruptible process to begin or commence in the user device after a time delay measured from receipt of the initial instruction. One or more input of the device is monitored to determine whether a subsequent instruction is received within a time period. Based on this determination, the time delay applied to future un-interruptible processes is adjusted. By adjusting the time delay in response to user inputs, the time delay can be automatically matched to a user's preferences.

Abstract: The video processing system provides for automatic selection of video sequences showing goals in a video stream from cameras directed at a playing field. Classification is applied to image content from different foreground positions in an image. The set of classes comprising a first and second class corresponding players of different teams. Medians or averages of the image positions of the local image content assigned to the first and second class are determined. A condition is tested whether the results are on mutually opposite sides of a reference position and a distance between collected positions or distances between the reference position and the first and second collected positions exceed a threshold value. When the test shows that the condition is met, a preceding video sequence is selected, for example for display.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and reception apparatus for processing one or more triggers associated with audio/video (A/V) content, and an information providing apparatus for providing the one or more triggers. The method includes receiving by the reception apparatus the A/V content and a first trigger associated with the received A/V content. Further, the reception apparatus retrieves a trigger parameters table (TPT), associated with the A/V content, from a TPT server identified in the received first trigger. The TPT defines at least one event associated with the A/V content and defines, for each of the at least one event, a parameter used to perform a process and corresponding to the respective event.

Abstract: A computer receives one or more media content source locations. The computer determines two or more media content items associated with the one or more received media content source locations. The computer negotiates digital rights associated with the two or more media content items. The computer pre-fetches the two or more media content items from the one or more media content source locations. The computer determines at least one digital characteristic of a first media content item of the two or more media content items does not match at least one digital characteristic of a second media content item of the two or more media content items. The computer resamples the first media content item of the two or more media content items. The computer publishes a composition of the two or more media content items to appear as one linked asset with uniform digital characteristics.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for bandwidth-efficient streaming of immersive content. In the context of a method, an example embodiment includes causing generation of immersive content by an immersive content capture device, retrieving, from a memory, buffer information regarding a current view buffer (CVB), one or more pre-fetch buffers (PFBs), and a free viewpoint buffer (FVB), and causing transmission, by a streaming server, of portions of the immersive content to an immersive content viewing system based on the retrieved buffer information regarding the CVB, the one or more PFBs, and the FVB. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a sight line detecting unit configured to detect a sight line of a viewer who is viewing content data and output sight line information which is a result of the detection, a viewing condition estimating unit configured to estimate a viewing condition of the viewer based on the output sight line information and visual attention information relating to the content data, and a content suggesting unit configured to make various suggestions with respect to the content data for the viewer based on the estimated viewing condition.

Abstract: A method, system, or device to determine when media content has been displayed. The method can include receiving a unique identifier (UID) and fingerprint for a media segment. The method can also include determining a media segment ID for the media segment, generating and submitting a query for the media segment ID in a record database, determining that the media segment ID is not stored in the record database, and identifying an overlay content segment ID. The method can include generating and submitting for the overlay content segment ID in the record database, determining it is not stored in an entry, sending the overlay content segment to the electronic device, and receiving a notification from the electronic device.

Abstract: A system for intelligent video streaming a video controller having at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable media having a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive a playback request from a user device for a live stream, determine, from the playback request, whether source streaming content for the live stream is being transcoded, and allocate an available transcoder to transcode the source streaming content. The system further includes a transcoding having at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable media having a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to join the multicast stream, retrieve the source streaming content, and transcode the source streaming content, and provide transcoded streaming content for delivery to the user device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method (300) for inserting an advertisement into a video stream of an AoD service. The method is performed by an AoD processing device and includes steps of: acquiring (S310), from the AoD server, advertisement configuration information; determining (S320) an advertisement to be inserted based on the advertisement configuration information; receiving (S330), from the AoD server, a notification that a triggering condition for inserting an advertisement is satisfied, the triggering condition being associated with an interaction between the AoD server and a client device to which the AoD service is provided; transmitting (S340) to the AoD server an instruction to cause the AoD server to render a combined picture of the application and the advertisement based on the advertisement configuration information; and receiving (S350), from the AoD server, the combined picture and converting it into a frame in the video stream for transmission to the client device.

Abstract: A scheme for optimizing segment sizes for an adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming client engaged in a current ABR streaming session. In one implementation, a determination is made whether a wireless UE device executing the ABR streaming client is approaching a radio white spot area. If so, a video buffer of the ABR client is configured to preload a fixed number of segments having an adjusted size depending on the duration of the radio white spot area. The preloaded segments may comprise lower quality video segments, and as the wireless UE device exits the radio white spot area, the segment size and/or bitrates may be restored depending on the signal quality.

Abstract: A media system providing customized media functions at a hospitality establishment includes a first device operable to display a first passkey to a user attempting to activate a media function on a particular media device. The hospitality establishment includes a plurality of media devices installed at a plurality of different locations therein. A second device is operable to receive the first passkey from the user, determine whether the first passkey received from the user matches a second passkey associated with the particular media device, and activate the media function on the particular media device in response to determining that the first passkey received from the user matches the second passkey associated with the particular media device.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is to ensure that a security module SC or CAM is used with an authorized receiver device. A security device for Pay-TV receiver decoder, in charge of processing the security messages and to extract the keys or rights from the security messages, this security device comprising a memory to store at least one reference identifier of the receiver/decoder, characterized in that, it further comprises a wireless reader to read a wireless tag containing a receiver/decoder identifier with which it is connected, and means to compare this identifier with the reference identifier, said security device modifying the processing of the security messages in function of the comparison result.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals comprises an encoder for encoding service data, a mapper for mapping the encoded service data into a plurality of OFDM symbols to build at least one signal frame, a modulator for modulating data in the built at least one signal frame by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a channel service are disclosed. The method may generate a channel list including a channel number inputted by a user and a main viewing channel list and display together the channel list and the main viewing channel list. Here, the channel list includes at least one channel of which number starts from the inputted channel number, and the main viewing channel list includes one or more channels viewed mainly by the user with the received channel number.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit content to an external apparatus through a cable; an information acquisition unit configured to acquire cable-length information that represents a cable length to the external apparatus; and a controller configured to control an operation of the transmission unit based on the cable-length information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a consumer device is assigned, at a broadcast headend to one of at least two groups of consumer devices, the two groups including a first group of consumer devices which is required to play content of a second type in order to view content of a first type and a second group of consumer devices which is not required to play content of the second type in order to view content of the first type. A video broadcast stream is sent from the broadcast headend to the consumer device, the video broadcast stream comprising content of the first type sent associated with a first packet ID (PID) and content of the second type sent associated with a second PID, wherein the first PID and the second PID are processed at the consumer device at the same time.

Abstract: Processes, systems and devices are described to enhance the television or other media viewing experience based upon excitement data that is associated with the program. Excitement data can be used to identify the most exciting portions of media programs, therefore allowing for improved identification of programs or portions of programs for viewing, streaming, recording or other purposes.