Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: receive an image of a user in an environment; detect an object in the image; perform one of a plurality of user-selectable processes associated with the object, each of the plurality of user-selectable processes being associated with hiding a visual characteristic of the object in the image; and after the one of the plurality of user-selectable processes has been performed, transmit data representing the image.

Abstract: A content encoding system for generating content to be output to a client device, the system comprising a content obtaining unit operable to obtain video content for display at the client device, an asset determining unit operable to determine one or more assets to be associated with the display of the video content at the client device, an asset package identifying unit operable to identify one or more asset packages comprising respective ones of the determined assets, and determining one or more asset package identifiers associated with those packages, and an encoding unit operable to generate an encoded stream comprising the video content and the one or more asset package identifiers.

Abstract: A content encoding system for generating content to be output to a client device, the system comprising a content obtaining unit operable to obtain video content for display at the client device, an asset determining unit operable to determine one or more assets to be associated with the display of the video content at the client device, an asset package identifying unit operable to identify one or more asset packages comprising respective ones of the determined assets, and determining one or more asset package identifiers associated with those packages, and an encoding unit operable to generate an encoded stream comprising the video content and the one or more asset package identifiers.

Abstract: A method of identifying a predetermined event that is audibly acknowledged within content comprises the steps of obtaining at least a first reference data item representing a predetermined event, detecting a pattern of peaks in audio of the content, the peaks being detected using a predefined process and predefined criteria, comparing the pattern of peaks with a respective reference pattern in the or each reference data item using a visual comparison process, and identifying that a predetermined event has occurred within the content if the pattern of peaks matches, to a predetermined matching threshold degree, a respective reference pattern of a data item representing the predetermined event.

Abstract: A content modification system operable to modify video game content in dependence upon the time available to a user of a processing device, the system comprising an input receiving unit operable to receive inputs from one or more devices indicative of an expected duration of a function being performed by a respective device, an available time determination unit operable to determine, in dependence upon received inputs, an amount of time available to a user before the completion of the function of respective ones of the one or more devices, a content modification unit operable to modify video game content in dependence upon the determined amount of time, and a processing device operable to present the modified video game content to the user via a display associated with the processing device.

Abstract: A method of identifying an event that is graphically acknowledged within a sequence of images, comprises the steps of defining one or more regions of respective images in which a graphical indication of acknowledgement will occur, selecting at least a first defined region as a candidate acknowledgement image, and selecting for output one or more of the candidate acknowledgement images, or respective images of the sequence of images that comprise such candidate acknowledgement images.

Abstract: A method of identifying a predetermined event within a sequence of images comprises the steps of obtaining a database of data items each representing one of a plurality of predetermined events, identifying candidate event images within the sequence of images, comparing data representing at least a first a candidate event image with one or more data items in the database, and identifying that a predetermined event has occurred within the sequence of images if a candidate event image matches a data item in the database to a predetermined matching threshold degree.

Abstract: A method of identifying text that appears within a sequence of images comprises the steps of defining one or more regions of respective images in which text will appear, detecting when text has appeared in one or more of the defined regions, identifying text within a defined region when text has been detected there, and selecting for output identified text that has appeared, or a respective image of the sequence of images that comprise such identified text.

Abstract: A method of identifying notable events within an interactive content includes obtaining corresponding footage of at least two independent instances of the interactive content, and for the footage from each instance, identifying respective changes between successive images, that exceed a predetermined threshold, as scene cuts, and store a data item representative of an image at or near each scene cut, to create data items representing candidate events within the interactive content; then, matching or sequentially aligning the candidate events for each instance, on an overall best-match basis, retaining as review events those candidate events with a match or an aligned match between at least a majority of the candidate events, to create review events, and providing the set or series of review events to a user.

Abstract: A method of accessing the state of a currently operating application comprises a second application accessing and saving copies of plural memory values relating to the state of the currently operating application as an anchor memory value set, the second application accessing and saving copies of changes to said memory values as a delta memory value set, more often than saving an anchor memory value set, and forming a snapshot of the currently operating application at a selected moment by combining a preceding anchor memory value set and subsequent delta memory value sets up to said selected moment.

Abstract: A system for presenting content to a user of a processing device during a journey, the system comprising a journey identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of the journey, a content determination unit operable to select and/or modify content in dependence upon the identified characteristics, and a content presentation unit operable to present the selected and/or modified content to the user of the processing device during the journey.

Abstract: A method of rendering graphics for a video game, which comprises: assigning, to each of a plurality of objects in a frame to be rendered, an importance level of the object; determining, based on the importance levels, one or more rendering quality resource restrictions to be applied to at least some of the plurality of objects; and rendering the frame, wherein the plurality of objects are rendered in accordance with the rendering quality resource restrictions.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: receive an image of a user in an environment; determine a region of the environment in the image in which motion of the user is expected, the motion of the user being associated with interactive content experienced by the user; identify one or more attributes of a detected object in the image, a portion of the detected object being within the determined region of the environment; determine a predetermined process associated with the one or more identified attributes; and perform the predetermined process.

Abstract: There is provided a method of sending a content stream, comprising retrieving a sender framework associated with the at least one attribute, wherein the sender framework defines an arrangement of the plurality of tracks to be included in an output content stream. The output content stream is defined according to the sender framework. There is also provided a method of outputting a content stream on a user device, comprising receiving a content stream as defined by a sender framework, retrieving a user framework associated with the user electronic device, wherein the user framework defines at least one predetermined setting or instruction to be applied to the content stream, and applying the user framework to the content stream to update the content stream. The method may also include providing viewer engagement information and updating the sender framework in response to the viewer engagement information received.

Abstract: There is provided a method of providing a custom manifest for a content stream to a user electronic device, the method comprising receiving a request for a manifest file, generating a custom manifest, wherein the custom manifest defines a personalised version of the content stream, and sending the custom manifest to the user electronic device. The method further comprises providing an updated custom manifest file based on a received updated request. There is also provided a method of outputting a content stream on a user electronic device, the method comprising sending a request for a manifest file, receiving a custom manifest file, and outputting a personalised version of the content stream as defined in the custom manifest file. The method further comprises sending an updated request for a custom manifest associated with the content stream, and receiving an updated custom manifest.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of interacting with a video game system comprising a user input device, the method comprising: determining movement of a user using a sensor; predicting a future actuation of the user input device based on the determined movement, wherein the actuation triggers a game event; outputting an effect based on the predicted actuation of the user input device. This provides accurate, pre-emptive effects and improves the interaction between a video game system and a user.

Abstract: A processing device for generating a group of users for a first user to complete a given task in a video game, completion requiring one or more in-game characteristics, the processing device comprising: an identification unit configured to identify one or more requirements of the given task; a selection unit configured to select one or more other users from a plurality of other users, wherein a respective one of the other users is selected in dependence upon at least one of the requirements and one or more in-game characteristics associated with the respective other user; and a group generation unit configured to generate the group for the first user to complete the given task, the generated group comprising the first user and the one or more selected other users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for outputting a sound effect during video game gameplay is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: determining a sound effect to be output; retrieving a source sound and a sound-editing operator from a memory device, wherein the sound-editing operator comprises an edit that, when applied to the source sound, generates the sound effect to be output; applying the sound-editing operator to the source sound to generate the sound effect to be output; and outputting the sound effect.

Abstract: A peer highlight generation apparatus comprises receiving circuitry configured to receive peer profile data associated with a user, wherein the peer profile data identifies one or more peer gaming profiles that are respectively associated with one or more peers, wherein each peer has participated with the user in one or more video game sessions; first generating circuitry configured to generate one or more candidate highlights of a given peer, wherein each candidate highlight comprises image data of one of the one or more video game sessions in which the user and the given peer participated together, wherein at least a part of each candidate highlight comprises image data of an in-game avatar of the given peer; selecting circuitry configured to select a highlight from among the one or more generated candidate highlights; and rendering circuitry configured to render, for display, a list of one or more of the peer gaming profiles, wherein the list comprises the peer gaming profile of the given peer, wherein the

Abstract: A handheld video game controller includes one or more user-operable input elements, control circuitry to generate controller data indicative of operation of one or more of the user-operable input elements, and communication circuitry, where for a first communication mode, the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the controller data directly to a video game console as a destination device for the controller data, and where for a second communication mode, the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the controller data via a plurality of networked devices to a video game processing device as the destination device for the controller data.