Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a message transmitted from a web server application operating in a mobile device and inserting an identifier of a gateway device into the message to produce a modified message. The modified message includes a request to invoke a software application in the mobile device. The modified message is forwarded to a remote server to allow the server to establish communications with a media processor based on the identifier of the gateway device. The media processor invokes the software application in the mobile device based on an address supplied by the web server application allowing the mobile device to execute the software application and to establish media communication services with the media processor responsive to executing the software application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Transmission frequency information in units of component, the component being a data element contained in one broadcast delivery service and allowed for independent delivery, is supplied to a user terminal to execute reception setting in units of component. A data transmission device transmits, to the user terminal, metadata recording transmission frequency information in units of component that is constituent data of a broadcast delivery service and corresponds to a data element allowed for independent delivery to the user terminal, such as units of component of image data having a particular resolution, audio data or subtitle data in a particular language, or other types of data. The user terminal corresponding to a receiving device executes a setting process for setting a reception frequency allowing reception of a component to be received based on transmission frequency information recorded in units of component in the metadata received from the data transmission device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application disclose a video processing method, associated devices and a communication system. The video processing method includes: obtaining, by a screenshot server, a video from a video server, wherein the video is a live broadcasting video uploaded into the video server by a second user terminal; capturing, by the screenshot server, a plurality of pictures from the video based on a preset screenshot strategy to capture a plurality of pictures from the video according to a certain capturing frequency; and storing, by the screenshot server, the pictures into a storage server, wherein a link to the pictures is embedded in a webpage displayed on a mobile terminal, such that the mobile terminal downloads the pictures from the storage server in response to a user selection of the link to the pictures and plays the pictures on the mobile terminal one by one in a video-like format.

Abstract: A content zapping method for accessing multimedia contents rapidly and easily by accessing the multimedia contents on a browser basis, includes receiving a screen change command for at least one broadcast channel or at least one content; and changing a screen to a browser which provides the at least one broadcast channel or the at least one content corresponding to the received screen change command, in an order of a pre-stored list.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content streaming or playback, and, in particular, automatic audio optimization. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive user input indicating a request for presentation of media content, initiate database lookup in a database for audio parameter settings associated with the requested media content, and determine whether the database contains audio parameter settings specifically associated with the requested media content. If so, the computing system retrieves the audio parameter settings and automatically reconfigures an audio playback device(s) with the retrieved audio parameter settings. If not, the computing system determines whether the database contains audio parameter settings associated with a content category to which the requested media content belongs. If so, such audio parameter settings are retrieved and the audio playback device(s) are reconfigured with the audio parameter settings.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to facilitate acquisition of information associated with a multimedia content through embedded watermarks. One such method includes obtaining a server code for embedding into a content. The server code identifies a particular domain name registered to a registrant entity and provides a mapping to an Internet address of a metadata server. Upon receiving an indication that a trigger event is associated with a particular segment of the content, a first watermark payload is formed and embedded in the content. The watermark payload includes the server code, an interval code and a first trigger value. The interval code identifies the particular content segment and the first trigger value indicates that additional information associated with the particular segment is. Detection of the first trigger value from a subsequently distributed content enables a query to the metadata server for acquisition of metadata.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to correct misattributions of media impressions are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining first demographic-based impressions via a beacon transmitted in response to access to content by a first set of panelists, obtaining, from a database proprietor, second demographic-based impressions of the content on a second set of persons, forming a pseudo-inverse matrix determined based in part on the first impressions, and having a truncated value and a damped value to form third demographic-based impressions of the content on the second set of persons based on the second impressions, and computing at least partially corrected demographic-based impressions values by multiplying a vector of database proprietor impression data by the pseudo-inverse matrix.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of using video viewer interaction data as input to a measurement engine which then calculates: demographic level and aggregate level (a) household reach for advertisements and video content based on user defined reach periods, (b) One-minute, Thirty-minute, and Sixty-minute channel viewing metrics, and (c) One-minute, Thirty-minute, and Sixty-minute aggregate viewing metrics, all based on second-by-second household level viewing activity. Also shows creation of Commercial Schedule Cumulative Audience, Impressions for Reach Periods, Demographic Group Impressions, Average Audience, Average Audience Share, Average Rating, Households Using Television, and Households Using Television Percent using household level data. Works with IP and linear video delivery. Together these metrics provide detailed information on customer viewing behavior which can be used to drive business decisions for service providers, advertisers, and content producers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a content supply device, a content supply method, a program, a terminal device, and a content supply system, which are capable of implementing rapid zapping between channels in DASH. The content supply device of the present disclosure generates a zapping segment stream by delimiting zapping streaming data among a plurality of pieces of streaming data into minimum units when reception of the streaming data is switched, according to a common timing with another channel, unicast-delivers the zapping segment stream, multicast-delivers the zapping segment stream, and generates a metafile for a reception side to receive the zapping segment stream that is unicast-delivered and multicast-delivered. The present disclosure can be applied to a system that delivers content in a streaming manner.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method performed by a content server with one or more processors and non-transitory memory includes: receiving a first view request from a first client device; determining a first view group associated with the first client device in response to receiving the first view request; identifying a first view hierarchy based on the first view group, where the first view hierarchy includes a first plurality of pointers to a first plurality of content sub-tree hierarchies associated with content items and the first view hierarchy also includes a first order schema; obtaining the first plurality of content sub-tree hierarchies based on the first plurality of pointers; and transmitting display data associated with a first user interface to the first client device based on the first order schema and the first plurality of content sub-tree hierarchies.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes an interface component configured to generate a user interface for playing and requesting videos and a reception component configured to receive a subset of videos from a set of videos in accordance with a video streaming session having a preset duration of time and play the subset of videos for the preset duration of time via the user interface. The device further includes a request component configured to request an increase to the preset duration of time of the video streaming session by a segment of time after reception of a video included in the subset of videos, wherein in response to the request, the reception component is configured to receive the subset of videos for an amount of time including the preset duration of time plus the segment of time and play the subset of videos for the amount of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a broadcasting device, a broadcasting method, a program, and a link application control system allowing control of receiving device control functions of a link app on the broadcasting side. A link application control system according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes the broadcasting device that has a supply unit for supplying to the receiving device application control information concerning a link application executable with reception of the contents by the receiving device, and the receiving device that has an application executing unit for executing a link application that may refer to an image of the received contents and change a layout of a screen, and an application control unit for controlling the application executing unit based on the application control information to limit an action of the link application. The present disclosure is applicable to a television broadcasting system.

Abstract: A system may receive an entity identifier for a user. The entity identifier may identify an entity that is associated with a category. The system may identify channel(s) for the category by obtaining data for the user, and analyzing the data to determine a score for each channel. The system may use the scores to select one or more of the channels. The system may provide content related to the selected channel(s) to a client device of the user, and the user may interact with the content via the client device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (20) for operating a mobile device (10). The mobile device (10) is configured to download a media stream comprising a plurality of data segments (S1-Sn) and to playback the media stream during download. The media stream is downloaded as a plurality of blocks of data segments and each block of data segments comprises a set of the plurality of data segments (S1-Sn) representing a corresponding media stream portion of the media stream. According to the method, a required playback time (T) for a next block of data segments to be downloaded is determined depending on a predetermined required minimum playback time (C) which defines a required minimum time duration for playing back the media stream portion provided by the next block of data segments.

Abstract: Displaying a graphical user interface on a second-screen device. The graphical user interface can include a partial video stream displayed in a video display area on a touchscreen of the second-screen device and a contextual panel in an active display area on the touchscreen. The contextual panel can include content associated with the partial video stream. The displayed partial video stream can be associated with a video stream displayed by a primary display with the two displayed video streams being associated with the same content and substantially synchronized.

Abstract: A message distribution technique permits individual subscribers to receive text messages from a broadcaster. The broadcaster uploads a text message to a central processing service where it may be redirected to a chat room associated with the broadcaster. In addition, a push notification is sent to all subscribers of a particular broadcaster to indicate the delivery of a text message from the broadcaster. The push notification may also contain a link that, when activated by the subscriber, initiates an associated software application program that navigates the subscriber directly to the chat room to view the text message. The text message may be generated and uploaded by the broadcaster without having to activate the software application. The push notification may also be received by subscribers without having to activate the software program. In one embodiment, the broadcaster can limit distribution of the video based on a geographic restriction.

Abstract: A video distribution technique permits individual subscribers to pay a nominal fee to follow celebrities and receive videos directly therefrom. An individual may qualify as a broadcaster by having a sufficient fan base as measured by the number of followers in existing social media services. The broadcaster uploads video to a central processing service where it may be transcoded to a convenient communication protocol for distribution. In addition, a warning message is sent to all subscribers of a particular broadcaster to indicate the impending arrival of an incoming video from the broadcaster. In one embodiment, the broadcaster can limit distribution of the video based on a geographic restriction. The broadcaster provides the restriction data and the system filters the subscriber list to include subscribers that meet the geographic requirements, such as residence in a particular area or current presence within a certain area. Messages sent only the targeted subscribers.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward locally generating a replacement spot beam signal to be combined with other orbital television signals, where the replacement spot beam signal is generated from locally received over-the-air television signals. Over-the-air television signals are received at a user's premises via an over-the-air antenna and orbital signals are received at the user's premises via a satellite antenna. The orbital signals include a spot beam signal and other orbital signals. The spot beam signal is specifically generated for the geographical area associated with the over-the-air television signals. One or more available local channels are extracted from the over-the-air television signals and are converted into the replacement spot beam signal that is a satellite-compatible signal. The replacement spot beam, instead of the original spot beam signal, is then combined with the other orbital signals and provided to a content receiver.

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: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatically generating a shoppable video. A video is parsed into one or more scenes. Products and their corresponding product information are automatically associated with the one or more scenes. The shoppable video is then generated using the associated products and corresponding product information such that the products are visible in the shoppable video based on a scene in which the products are found.