Abstract: Methods (FIG. 900), systems and the like for determining which users have an interest in receiving media content and determining when to transmit the media content (i.e., which segment/portion of a media content to transmit) based on user characteristics that are related to the user's interest in the media content. Users/viewers are targeted/selected as candidates for receiving media content based on their interest in the event. Specific segments/portions of the event are identified that are of interest to the users/viewers, such that, real-time transmission (e.g., unicast, broadcast, multicast) of the event may be limited to only those segments/portions of the event that are of interest to the users/viewers.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.

Abstract: The system generates a display providing condensing content for display under time constraints. In response to a selection of a program that has already started, the system retrieves information about the program. Based on this information, and information about the user, the system selects a subset of segments of the program, forming a shorter version of the content that fits within a reduced time interval, from the time of selection to a scheduled end time. Accordingly, the user is presented with the condensed version of the currently selected program by, including the important or relevant segments of the program. The system generates the condensed content by selecting segments of the program that are determined to be important to the user and that cumulatively fit with the available viewing time. The system may sort, score, or otherwise rank segment identifiers based on user profile information.

Abstract: A television with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The television is associated with a room and includes a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio drive disposed in an interconnected busing architecture. The television generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a pricing policy for streaming a media asset to a user; and recording, by the processing system, the pricing policy into a blockchain, wherein the pricing policy is used by a billing system to charge the user for streaming the media asset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.

Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, the system includes a set-top box located in a room at a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms. The set-top box stores various types of set-top box data and transmits the set-top box data to a remote server. The remote server receives and stores the set-top box data. The server may render a map view of the hospitality establishment based on obtained map data. The map view may include a graphical representation of the room and other rooms at the hospitality establishment. The server may annotate the graphical representation of the room with at least a portion of the set-top box data.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a graph streaming application computes a first distance along a first potential playback path between a first playback position and a first media content block. The graph streaming application then computes a first score for the first media content block based on the first distance and a first probability associated with the first potential playback path. Similarly, the graph streaming application computes a second score for a second media content block based on a second playback position, a second potential playback path, and a second probability associated with the second potential playback path. The graph streaming application compares the first score and the second score to determine that the first media content block should be buffered by a client device. The graph streaming application then causes the first media content block to be stored in a playback buffer for subsequent playback on the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing content item recommendations based on a video. Using feature vectors corresponding to at least one frame of a video (e.g., generated based on texture and shape intensity of a frame), a recommendation system improves content recommendation using analytic and quantitative characteristics derived from a frame of a content item rather than merely manually labeled bibliographic data (e.g., a genre or producer). The recommendation system may generate a feature vector based on a texture, a shape intensity (e.g., generated from a Generalized Hough Transform), and temporal data corresponding to at least one frame of a video. The feature vector is analyzed using a machine learning model (e.g., a neural network) to produce a machine learning model output. The recommendation system causes a recommended content item to be provided based on the machine learning model output.

Abstract: An embodiment comprises methods of managing and systems for processing media projects. The project processing system comprises a hardware processor and a communication circuit. The processor receives a first request from a first viewer to view first media content, determine whether the first viewer is permitted to view the first media content, provide a first viewer interface to the first viewer permitted to view the first media content, the first viewer interface enabling the first viewer to stream or download the first media content, determine that the first viewer requests to share viewing of the first media content with at least one additional viewer, and enable the first viewer to share viewing of the first media content with the at least one additional viewer. The communication circuit provides the first media content to the first viewer and the at least one additional viewer for streaming or downloading over a network.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for correcting systematic tuning defects. An example apparatus includes a defect analyzer to identify a suspect time window in tuning volume data of return path data reported by set top boxes. The example apparatus further includes a return path data transformer to identify a first return path data entry indicating a first set top box reported a first transition to an off state at a first time during the suspect time window and to modify the first return path data entry to (1) eliminate the first transition to the off state at the first time and (2) assign the first return path data entry a first duration to remain in an on state after the first time, where the first duration is determined based on monitoring data reported from media device meters monitoring media presentation devices.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for concurrent media stream aggregate fingerprinting are provided. A system includes a harvester subsystem, downloader subsystem, fingerprinter subsystem, and an analyzer subsystem. The harvester subsystem is configured to identify a first address associated with a first third-party streaming platform based on stream search criteria. The downloader subsystem is configured to capture a first streaming media segment from the first address. The fingerprinter subsystem is configured to generate a first captured stream fingerprint of the first streaming media segment and generate a first source fingerprint of a source streaming media segment.

Abstract: A television with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The television is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio driver in an interconnected architecture. The television generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.

Abstract: This disclosure discloses various intellectual property rights management software systems for video content (e.g. episodes, series, seasons, movies, clips) that are able to pre-determine intellectual property rights availabilities for the video content over many different combinations of factors (e.g. channels, territories, rights) such that these availabilities can be readily available (e.g. stored, cached) for a client (e.g. workstation, mobile device) to query against.

Abstract: A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including an NRT service, method comprises receiving a broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying the NRT service based on the first signaling information, identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NRT service signaling data based on the first signaling information and the second signaling information, receiving the NRT service signaling data by accessing the IP address, and downloading a desired NRT service based on the NRT service signaling data.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining one or more signals, the one or more signals being based upon brain activity of a viewer while the viewer is viewing media content; predicting, based upon the one or more signals, a first predicted desired viewport of the viewer; obtaining head movement data associated with the media content; predicting, based upon the head movement data, a second predicted desired viewport of the viewer; comparing the first predicted desired viewport to the second predicted desired viewport, resulting in a comparison; and determining, based upon the comparison, to use the first predicted desired viewport to facilitate obtaining a first subsequent portion of the media content or to use the second predicted desired viewport to facilitate obtaining a second subsequent portion of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

Abstract: A method modifies how content is broadcast based on the tone and format of the content. One or more processors retrieve a set of rules that describe a tone and format for proposed content that is to be broadcast to an intended target, and determine whether the proposed content conforms to the set of rules. In response to determining that the proposed content does not conform to the set of rules, the processor(s) modify how the proposed content is broadcast to the intended target. The processor(s) generate an enriched content of the modified content by applying, to the modified content, content metatags that describe a content of the modified content, and then analyze the enriched content to calculate a trustworthiness index (TI) for the enriched content. The processors further modify how content is broadcast to the intended target based on the TI of the enriched content.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for creating and displaying branching-plot video content. The method comprises obtaining, from a database, a set of nodes and each node comprises an audio element, video element, and a set of node branches, wherein at least on node is a parent and another a child; obtaining a relational table; designating a current node, creating a playlist of audio segments and video segments for display; and traversing the set of nodes by: integrating the audio and video elements, receiving a selection from the user, and designating the child node as the current node. The system comprises a computer store containing data; a set of nodes and each node has a video and audio element and relationships exist between the nodes; and a computer server that obtains a set of nodes, generates a playlist, displays an audio and video sequence, and traverses the set of nodes.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for improving audio for hearing impaired content consumers. An example method may comprise determining a content asset. Closed caption data associated with the content asset may be determined. At least a portion of the closed caption data may be determined based on a user setting associated with a hearing impairment. Compensating audio comprising a frequency translation associated with at least the portion of the closed caption data may be generated. The content asset may be caused to be output with audio content comprising the compensating audio and the original audio.