Abstract: The system provides a synthesized speech response to a voice input, based on the prosodic character of the voice input. The system receives the voice input and calculates at least one prosodic metric of the voice input. The at least one prosodic metric can be associated with a word, phrase, grouping thereof, or the entire voice input. The system also determines a response to the voice input, which may include the sequence of words that form the response. The system generates the synthesized speech response, by determining prosodic characteristics based on the response, and on the prosodic character of the voice input. The system outputs the synthesized speech response, which includes a more natural, relevant, or both answer to the call of the voice input. The prosodic character of the voice input and/or response may include pitch, note, duration, prominence, timbre, rate, and rhythm, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically adapting quality levels of content is disclosed herein. A content transmission system determines whether to reduce streaming bandwidth of a device that transmits content. In response to determining to reduce the streaming bandwidth, the content transmission system identifies a first plurality of frames of the content based on a first context and a second plurality of frames of the content based on a second context. The content transmission system transmits the first plurality of frames at a first quality level based on the first context and the second plurality of frames at a second quality level that is higher than the first quality level based on the second context.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for selecting alternate routes with fewer directions during vehicle navigation. The disclosed techniques herein determine directions from route data and direction timestamps for each of the directions. For each direction, a corresponding media asset from media assets in a playlist having a media asset duration that matches a direction duration is determined. The direction duration is the time difference between the direction timestamp and a subsequent direction timestamp.

Abstract: The system identifies one or more entities or content items among a plurality of stored information. The system generates an audio file based on a first text string that represents the entity or content item. Based on the first text string and at least one speech criterion, the system generating, using a speech-to-text module a second text string based on the audio file. The system then compares the text strings and stores the second text string if it is not identical to the first text string. The system generates metadata that includes results from text-speech-text conversions to forecast possible misidentifications when responding to voice queries during search operations. The metadata includes alternative representations of the entity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing uninterrupted media content by reordering playlists during vehicle navigation. The disclosed techniques herein determine directions from route data and navigation announcements for each of the directions. For each direction, a corresponding media asset from media assets in a playlist having a media asset duration that matches a direction duration is determined. The direction duration is the time difference between the navigation announcement and a subsequent navigation announcement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically adapting quality levels of content is disclosed herein. A content transmission system determines whether to reduce streaming bandwidth of a device that transmits content. In response to determining to reduce the streaming bandwidth, the content transmission system identifies a first plurality of frames of the content based on a first context and a second plurality of frames of the content based on a second context. The content transmission system transmits the first plurality of frames at a first quality level based on the first context and the second plurality of frames at a second quality level that is higher than the first quality level based on the second context.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for selecting alternate routes with fewer directions during vehicle navigation. The disclosed techniques herein determine directions from route data and direction timestamps for each of the directions. For each direction, a corresponding media asset from media assets in a playlist having a media asset duration that matches a direction duration is determined. The direction duration is the time difference between the direction timestamp and a subsequent direction timestamp.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically adapting quality levels of content is disclosed herein. A content transmission system determines whether to reduce streaming bandwidth of a device that transmits content. In response to determining to reduce the streaming bandwidth, the content transmission system identifies a first plurality of frames of the content based on a first context and a second plurality of frames of the content based on a second context. The content transmission system transmits the first plurality of frames at a first quality level based on the first context and the second plurality of frames at a second quality level that is higher than the first quality level based on the second context.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for providing a user with a notification or with access to live media on an audio/visual user entertainment system based on a user's conditional request for media content. The user may provide the condition of the request by speaking or by entering the condition of the request into an interactive interface. An identification application analyzes the elements of the user's request and generates a question. The application finds a live media stream with identifiers related to the elements and posts the generated question to a live chat forum associated with the live media stream. The application analyzes posts on the forum made by other users to determine if the condition of the user's request is met. When the application determines a post confirms the condition is met, the application generates a notification and provides the user access to the live media stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing uninterrupted media content during vehicle navigation. The disclosed techniques herein discuss determining directions from route data and navigation announcements for each of the directions. For each navigation announcement, a determination is made whether current playback of a media asset in a playlist ends within a predefined time threshold before the navigation announcement. In a positive determination, the playback of the playlist is paused until the navigation announcement has elapsed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for disambiguating a voice search query by determining whether the user made a gesture while speaking a quotation from a content item and whether the user mimicked or approximated a gesture made by a character in the content item when the character spoke the words quoted by the user. If so, a search result comprising an identifier of the content item is generated. A search result representing the content item from which the quotation comes may be ranked highest among other search results returned and therefore presented first in a list of search results. If the user did not mimic or approximate a gesture made by a character in the content item when the quotation is spoken in the content item, then a search result may not be generated for the content item or may be ranked lowest among other search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting an interactive content item matching a user-selected category to a user for a desired duration. A user selects a category and selects a first interactive content item on a media system. The system calculates a total duration of a storyline from the selected interactive content item that matches the selected category (e.g., a genre “comedy”) and compares the calculated duration to a desired predetermined duration for which the user wishes to watch the selected show. If the system determines, for instance, that the total duration of the selected storyline is less than the predetermined duration, the system identifies scenes from another show and interleaves them with scenes from the first interactive content item to generate a combined interactive content item that satisfies the user viewing preferences.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining hint words that improve the accuracy of automated speech recognition (ASR) systems. Hint words are determined in the context of a user issuing voice commands in connection with a voice interface system. Terms are initially taken from most frequently occurring terms in operation of a voice interface system. For example, most frequently occurring terms that arise in electronic search queries or received commands are selected. Certain of these terms are selected as hint words, and the selected hint words are then transmitted to an ASR system to assist in translation of speech to text.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for disambiguating a voice search query that contains a command keyword by determining whether the user spoke a quotation from a content item and whether the user mimicked or approximated the way the quotation is spoken in the content item. The voice search query is transcribed into a string, and an audio signature of the voice search query is identified. Metadata of a quotation matching the string is retrieved from a database that includes audio signature information for the string as spoken within the content item. The audio signature of the voice search query is compared with the audio signature information in the metadata to determine whether the audio signature matches the audio signature information in the quotation metadata. If a match is detected, then a search result comprising an identifier of the content item from which the quotation comes is generated.

Abstract: The system provides a synthesized speech response to a voice input, based on the prosodic character of the voice input. The system receives the voice input and calculates at least one prosodic metric of the voice input. The at least one prosodic metric can be associated with a word, phrase, grouping thereof, or the entire voice input. The system also determines a response to the voice input, which may include the sequence of words that form the response. The system generates the synthesized speech response, by determining prosodic characteristics based on the response, and on the prosodic character of the voice input. The system outputs the synthesized speech response, which includes a more natural, relevant, or both answer to the call of the voice input. The prosodic character of the voice input and/or response may include pitch, note, duration, prominence, timbre, rate, and rhythm, for example.

Abstract: The system trains a model to provide information used to provide a synthesized speech response to a voice input. The model takes as input prosodic information that may include pitch, note, duration, prominence, timbre, rate, and rhythm, for example. The system receives a plurality of voice inputs, each associated with prosodic metric, as well as a plurality of responses, each also associated with prosodic metrics. The system trains the model based on the plurality of voice inputs, the plurality of responses, the prosodic metrics of the voice inputs, and the prosodic metrics of the responses such that the model outputs information used to generate the response. The model may also take as input user profile information, emotion metrics, and transition information to generate output. The output of the training model may be used by the system to provide synthesized speech responses having relevant prosodic character to received voice inputs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting an interactive content item matching a user-selected category to a user for a desired duration. A user selects a category and selects a first interactive content item on a media system. The system calculates a total duration of a storyline from the selected interactive content item that matches the selected category (e.g., a genre “comedy”) and compares the calculated duration to a desired predetermined duration for which the user wishes to watch the selected show. If the system determines, for instance, that the total duration of the selected storyline is less than the predetermined duration, the system identifies scenes from another show and interleaves them with scenes from the first interactive content item to generate a combined interactive content item that satisfies the user viewing preferences.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for disambiguating a voice search query that contains a command keyword by determining whether the user spoke a quotation from a content item and whether the user mimicked or approximated the way the quotation is spoken in the content item. The voice search query is transcribed into a string, and an audio signature of the voice search query is identified. Metadata of a quotation matching the string is retrieved from a database that includes audio signature information for the string as spoken within the content item. The audio signature of the voice search query is compared with the audio signature information in the metadata to determine whether the audio signature matches the audio signature information in the quotation metadata. If a match is detected, then a search result comprising an identifier of the content item from which the quotation comes is generated.

Abstract: The system provides a voice command recommendation to a user to avoid a non-voice command. The system determines a command that is expected to be received, and generates a voice command recommendation that corresponds to the predicted command. The predicted command can be based on the user's behavior, a plurality of users' behavior, environmental circumstances such as a phone call ring, or a combination thereof. The system may access one or more databases to determine the predicted command. The voice command recommendation may include a displayed notification that describes the recommended voice command, and exemplary voice inputs that are recognized. The system also activates an audio interface, such as a microphone, that is configured to receive a voice input. If the system receives a recognizable voice input at the audio interface that corresponds to the recommendation, the system performs the predicted command in response to receiving the voice input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining hint words that improve the accuracy of automated speech recognition (ASR) systems. Hint words are determined in the context of a user issuing voice commands in connection with a voice interface system. Terms are initially taken from most frequently occurring terms in operation of a voice interface system. For example, most frequently occurring terms that arise in electronic search queries or received commands are selected. Certain of these terms are selected as hint words, and the selected hint words are then transmitted to an ASR system to assist in translation of speech to text.