Abstract: Determining audience engagement may be provided. First, an image may be received and a plurality of faces may be identified in the received image. Then position data and head pose data for each of the plurality of faces in the received image may be determined. Next, the plurality of faces may be separated into a plurality of clusters based upon the determined position data for each of the plurality of faces in the received image. For each of the plurality of clusters, a plurality of bins may be created where each bin corresponds to a non-overlapping range between a maximum pose data value and a minimum pose data value. Next, a bin count may be determined for each of the plurality of bins in each of the plurality of clusters and then an engagement value may be determined for each of the plurality of clusters based on the bin count.

Abstract: A content management system may assist users in managing consumption of content, such as television programs. Primary content may be segmented into portions, where a secondary content is interspersed between a first portion and a second portion of the primary content. The first portion and the second portion may be aggregated sequentially.

Abstract: A distributed computing system is configured to compute operational data for a video advertisement delivery system. Cloud-based resource are used to calculate operational parameters such as geographical data, unique advertisement delivery instances and segments of consumers that received the video advertisements.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising encoding, by a server comprising a processor, media content to generate a plurality of media content files each having a filename and a uniform resource locator. The method also comprises receiving a channel request from a client media processor and generating a playlist. The playlist is mapped to the requested channel, and includes a filename and uniform resource locator for a personalized content file that is not included in the media content files. The method further comprises receiving a file request from the client media processor in accordance with the playlist, multicasting the plurality of media content files so that the client media processor receives the plurality of media content files, and delivering the personalized content file to the client media processor to enable presentation of personalized content in accordance with the playlist. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A receiving system includes a communication input system to receive a program and a marker file. The program has a total duration when the program is presented in its entirety. The marker file includes a plurality of markers indicating locations of contents-of-interest in the program. The system includes a data storage system to store the program and the marker file. The system includes a user control to receive requests to present the contents-of-interest indicated by the plurality of markers. The system includes one or more processors to determine the locations of the contents-of-interest in the program from the plurality of markers. The system includes a presentation output interface to present the contents-of-interest on a user interface. The presentation of the contents-of-interest skips some content in the program. The contents-of-interest are presented over a shortened duration that is less that the total duration of the program when presented in its entirety.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for creating countdown animations. The countdown animations may alert children that they are approaching their viewing limits, wherein the viewing limits are set by parents and/or guardians. A method may include generating a countdown of an amount of time remaining in a user selected period of time for accessing media content. The method may include identifying a character of a plurality of characters based on a user criterion. The method may include searching a database of a plurality of countdown animations to select a countdown animation associated with the identified character. The method may include generating for display the selected countdown animation simultaneously with the media content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for granting temporary access to videos from a programmer to viewers based on the viewers having subscriptions with a separate MVPD. An exemplary technique involves receiving a request for the programmer to provide a video to a viewer and accessing the MVPD to authenticate that the viewer has a subscription with the MVPD and confirm that the viewer is authorized to receive the video. The technique determines that the MVPD is not able to timely authenticate the viewer subscription or confirm that the viewer is authorized to receive the video. While waiting for the MVPD to respond, the viewer is granted temporary access to the video. When a subsequent response from the MVPD is received, the technique continues to grant access to the viewer to the video from the programmer or cuts off access of the viewer to the video from the programmer based on the response.

Abstract: This method for synchronizing a first multimedia stream rendered on a first terminal and a second multimedia stream rendered on a second terminal, comprises a step of generation, from an original audio sequence of the first stream, of original audio fingerprints, and further comprises steps of: a) generation from a first sequence of the first stream first audio fingerprints; b) comparison between the first fingerprints and the original fingerprints in order to obtain one or more first synchronization positions; c) correlation of the first sequence with one or more pieces of the original sequence located around the first synchronization positions in order to obtain a second synchronization position; d) rendering of the second stream on the second terminal using the second synchronization position.

Abstract: An intermediate server (104) is operable in a distributed key management system (300). The intermediate server comprises one or more processors (205) and an intermediate key material repository (302) to store digital rights management key material. The intermediate server can be operable in the system between a master server (101) and a local server (106), with the local server to deliver content (108) to one or more subscriber devices (109,110). The intermediate server, or optionally a management system (117) can pre-populate the intermediate key material repository with one or key material (1005) corresponding to fragments (1001) of the content prior to the fragments of content being requested by the one or more subscriber devices.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for synchronizing media data and auxiliary data received by a service through a broadcast network or a communication network in a multimedia broadcast service are provided. The method includes receiving regular media data provided for a broadcast service, receiving and storing control information regarding adjunct media data comprising auxiliary data regarding the regular media data, determining location information of the adjunct media data included in the control information, and receiving and storing the adjunct media data according to the location information. If an identifier of the adjunct media data is included in a header of the regular media data, reading the stored adjunct media data corresponding to the identifier of the adjunct media data, and executing the adjunct media data in synchronization with the regular media data according to synchronization information included in the header.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to determining and using a normalized in progress program indicator that can be used for resuming content playback are described. In some embodiments the normalized in progress program indicator, also referred to as a normalized in progress program time, indicates a portion, e.g., fraction, of a program which has been viewed. The normalized in progress time is generated by determining an in progress program point after excluding the time of advertisements that may have been included in a content stream with the program. A user may begin watching a program on one device and resume playback of a different version of the same program on another playback device with the normalization process allowing for the playback starting point to be easily determined whether the same or a different version, with a different duration, of the program is played back.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for Content On Demand (COD) asset insertion. A COD asset insertion decision system (CODAID) is communicatively coupled to a content distributor to process information about a COD content selection by a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The CODAID also processes information about assets from asset providers. The CODAID ranks the assets based in part on the COD content selection information and the asset information, identifies one or more of the ranked assets for insertion into the COD content selection, and directs the content distributor to insert the identified one or more ranked assets into the COD content selection. The system also includes an auction system which identifies asset placement opportunities remaining in the COD content selection after the CODAID identifies the one or more ranked assets for insertion so as to provide an auction for the asset placement opportunities.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method determines a video including ad slots inserted within the video. The method generates a caption curve for a caption file of caption segments for a video based on start and stop times for caption segments in the caption file. The caption segments in the caption file were generated for the video without including ad slots. Then, the method determines a speech velocity for the video using the caption file and revises the caption curve based on the speech velocity and a number of characters in caption segments in the caption file. A speech probability curve is determined based on audio of the video and the method correlates the speech probability curve to the revised caption curve to align the caption segments of the caption file with speech of the video.

Abstract: A method for content delivery using dynamic adaptive hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) streaming (DASH) without using HTTP. The method includes receiving a media presentation description (MPD) file and one or more DASH segments by a client device. Information in the MPD file is used to filter the one or more DASH segments. The filtered DASH segments are stored in a segments buffer. Particular DASH segments are requested from the segments buffer by the client device based on the information.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide targeted advertisements to users. One example is an ad selection controller for a first media channel that provides content to a user. To select an advertisement in the first media channel, the ad selection controller transmits a query to a back-end system of a second media channel that also provides content to the user to determine an advertisement(s) selected for the user in the second media channel. The ad selection controller receives a response from the back-end system that includes an advertisement identifier for the advertisement selected in the second media channel. The advertisement in the second media channel is referenced by an advertisement identifier that is global across multiple media channels. The ad selection controller then selects an advertisement for the user in the first media channel based on the advertisement selected in the second media channel, and provides the advertisement to the user.

Abstract: Various arrangements generating a customized channel are presented. A customized channel may be generated for a user. The programming for the customized channel may be gathered from different sources. The programming may be selected and scheduled based on user preferences, interests, and viewing habits of the user. The user viewing habits and preferences for programming may be used to refine the schedule and programming of the customized channel.

Abstract: As one example, a method can include receiving a series of chunks of media content encoded according to an adaptive bitrate format. The method also includes setting a buffer utilization value for a compressed data buffer. The method also includes adjusting timestamps of each packet in a given chunk to provide a preprocessed chunk, which includes the adjusted timestamps and the buffer utilization value. The method also includes streaming the preprocessed chunk in an output transport stream at variable bitrate set according a predetermined chunk time duration and based on the adjusted timestamps.

Abstract: Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective connectors. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television, as well as power for the media player.

Abstract: A media sharing system identifies fingerprints that represent an uploaded video and generates a digest based on the fingerprints. The media sharing system searches for digests of previously processed videos whose digests match the digest of the uploaded video. A previously processed video whose digest matches the digest of the uploaded video is identified as a matching video. For each matching video, the media sharing system retrieves policy information that describes whether the video was found to violate one or more policies of the media sharing system. The media sharing system determines whether to halt processing of the uploaded video based on the retrieved policy information.