Abstract: A method for adaptive content rendition includes receiving media content for playback to a user, adapting the media content for playback on a first device in the user's first location, receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location, adapting the media content for playback on a second device in the second location, and transitioning media content playback from the first device to the second device. The first device may be turned off after transitioning to the second device. The playback devices may be “dumb devices” which receive media content already prepared for playback, “smart devices” which receive media content in a less than ready form and prepare the media content for playback, or hybrid smart and dumb devices. A single device may be substituted by a plurality of devices. Adapting the media content may be based on a user profile storing user preferences and/or usage history.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, comparing an input received from a peripheral device associated with an execution of a gaming application with a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is based on a first identification of a first user, a second identification of the peripheral device, and a third identification of stimuli presented as part of the execution of the gaming application. Responsive to the comparing, a determination may be made that the input exceeds the threshold value. Responsive to the determination, a validation request may be transmitted to a user device of the first user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server from a user device, a request for media content. The request identifies a first personal quality profile. The method includes identifying, at the server, a version of the media content to send to the user device based on first media quality preferences indicated by the first personal quality profile. The method includes, in response to a determination of unavailability of the version from a content source: retrieving, at the server from the content source, a particular version of the media content; and modifying, at the server, a visual attribute of the particular version to generate the version. The method further includes sending the version from the server to the user device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a service platform capable of providing device-based task completion is disclosed. A request for a task is received at a service platform from a customer. A worker device to complete the task is selected from a group of worker devices registered with the service platform based on a current attribute of the worker device. Data resulting from completion of the task is received from the selected worker device, validated, and presented to the customer. A reward or incentive can be provided to the worker device in response to the data being received from the worker device and validated.

Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method, and tangible computer-readable media for media playback. The method includes receiving a request from a user to play a media asset, detecting capabilities of the playback device, detecting playback environment acoustic characteristics, optimizing media playback settings for the playback device and the playback environment characteristics, preparing the media asset for playback on the playback device, and transferring the prepared media asset to the playback device for playback. The method can further transfer optimized playback settings to the playback device. Media asset preparation can be based at least in part on the optimized playback settings. A playback profile can store environment characteristics and playback device capabilities. The method continuously detects changes in the playback environment characteristics, and optimizes media playback settings when detected changes exceed a threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for adaptive content rendition, the method comprising receiving media content for playback to a user, adapting the media content for playback on a first device in the user's first location, receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location, adapting the media content for playback on a second device in the second location, and transitioning media content playback from the first device to second device. One aspect conserves energy by optionally turning off the first device after transitioning to the second device. Another aspect includes playback devices that are “dumb devices” which receive media content already prepared for playback, “smart devices” which receive media content in a less than ready form and prepare the media content for playback, or hybrid smart and dumb devices. A single device may be substituted by a plurality of devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for providing logistical support for robots. In one example, the method includes receiving, at a centralized support center that is in communication with a plurality of robots, a query from a first robot of the plurality of robots that has been deployed to perform a task, wherein the query indicates an error encountered by the first robot and evidence of the error collected by the first robot, formulating, at the centralized support center, a proposed solution to resolve the error, wherein the formulating comprises soliciting an analysis of the evidence by a party other than the first robot, and delivering, by the centralized support center, the proposed solution to the first robot.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for composing a video in accordance with a user goal and an audience preference are described. For example, a processing system having at least one processor may obtain a plurality of video clips of a user, determine at least one goal of the user for a production of a video from the plurality of video clips, determine at least one audience preference of an audience, and compose the video comprising at least one video clip of the plurality of video clips of the user in accordance with the at least one goal of the user and the at least one audience preference. The processing system may then upload the video to a network-based publishing platform.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating narrative descriptions corresponding to visual features, visual events, and interactions there between for media content, where the narrative descriptions are associated with time stamps of the media content, and presenting the media content and an audio reproduction of the narrative descriptions, wherein the audio reproduction is synchronized to video of the media content according to the time stamps. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system, process and software that incorporate the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a condition that causes an impaired perception of an original media content item during a presentation. A media content modification is determined, wherein application of the media content modification to the original media content item results in a modified media content item. The modified media content item, when presented to the media presentation device, ameliorates the impaired perception of the media content item. The media content modification is applied to the original media content item resulting in the modified media content item. The modified media content item is presented at the media presentation device contemporaneously with the original media content item, allowing different viewers to observe the modified media content item simultaneously with the original. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining, by a system comprising a processor, more common features of a plurality of images according to similarity matrices indicating relative similarities between instances of common features occurring within multiple images of the plurality of images, defining, by the system, cluster groups associated with the more common features, where each cluster group comprises cluster images of the plurality of images, and where the more common features are present in each the cluster images, and performing, by the system, quality-based filtering on the cluster images to identify a target cluster image to represent the cluster images for each of the cluster groups. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, modifying a user profile associated with a user associated with a content service to generate an updated user profile according to consumption of media content by the user and user feedback information associated with the consumption of the media content, determining a user context according to information associated with user device, where the user context includes current activity of the user, modifying a set of media content according to the user context that is determined to generate an updated set of media content, where a type of media content is eliminated from the set of media content in the updated set of media content according to the user context, and presenting the updated set of content at a presentation device of the user via a personal media channel of the user associated with the content service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A processing system having at least one processor may establish a communication session between a first communication system of a first user and a second communication system of a second user, the communication session including first video content of a first physical environment of the first user and second video content of a second physical environment of the second user, determine a first visualization action for a first physical object in the first physical environment in accordance with a first configuration setting of the first user for the communication session, obtain the first video content from a first camera of the first communication system, detect the first physical object in the first video content, and perform the first visualization action to modify the first video content. The processing system may then transmit first visualization information including the first video content that is modified to the second communication system.

Abstract: A processing system having at least one processor may establish a communication session between a first communication system of a first user and a second communication system of a second user, the communication session including first visual content, the first visual content including a first visual representation of the first user, and detecting a first action of the first visual representation in the first visual content in accordance with a first action detection model. The processing system may modify, in response to the detecting the first action, the first visual content in accordance with a first configuration setting of the first user for the communication session, which may include modifying the first action of the first visual representation of the first user in the first visual content. In addition, the processing system may transmit the first visual content that is modified to the second communication system of the second user.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a device, a first image of a scene and a second image of at least a portion of the scene. The method includes identifying a first plurality of features from the first image and comparing the first plurality of features to a second plurality of features from the second image to identify a common feature. The method includes determining a particular subset of pixels that corresponds to the common feature, the particular subset of pixels corresponding to a first subset of pixels of the first image and a second subset of pixels of the second image. The method also includes generating a first image quality estimate of the first image based on a comparison of a first degree of variation within the first subset of pixels and a second degree of variation within the second subset of pixels.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for composing a video in accordance with a user goal and an audience preference are described. For example, a processing system having at least one processor may obtain a plurality of video clips of a user, determine at least one goal of the user for a production of a video from the plurality of video clips, determine at least one audience preference of an audience, and compose the video comprising at least one video clip of the plurality of video clips of the user in accordance with the at least one goal of the user and the at least one audience preference. The processing system may then upload the video to a network-based publishing platform.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for adjusting at least one network-controllable physical resource in response to detecting that a network-connected vehicle comprises a potential hazard to an animate being with a registered safety need are disclosed. In one example, a processing system including at least one processor may identify a network-connected vehicle and a animate being with a registered safety need, detect that the network-connected vehicle poses a potential hazard to the animate being with the registered safety need, transmit a first warning to the network-connected vehicle of the potential hazard, and adjust at least one network-controllable physical resource in response to the detecting that the network-connected vehicle poses the potential hazard to the animate being with the registered safety need.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a computing device, first image data of a viewer of an output of user equipment. The method includes selecting, at the computing device based on a first item identified in the first image data, a background component to be included in multimedia content. The method also includes providing, from the computing device, the multimedia content to the user equipment for presentation to the viewer. The multimedia content includes the background component and a first foreground component, where the first foreground component has a first characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for temporally adaptive media playback. The method for adaptive media playback includes estimating or determining an amount of time between a first event and a second event, selecting media content to fill the estimated amount of time between the first event and the second event, and playing the selected media content possibly at a reasonably different speed to fit the time interval. One embodiment includes events that are destination-based or temporal-based. Another embodiment includes adding, removing, speeding up, or slowing down selected media content in order to fit the estimated amount of time between the first event and the second event or to modify the selected media content to adjust to an updated estimated amount of time. Another embodiment bases selected media content on a user or group profile.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining, by a system comprising a processor, more common features of a plurality of images according to similarity matrices indicating relative similarities between instances of common features occurring within multiple images of the plurality of images, defining, by the system, cluster groups associated with the more common features, where each cluster group comprises cluster images of the plurality of images, and where the more common features are present in each the cluster images, and performing, by the system, quality-based filtering on the cluster images to identify a target cluster image to represent the cluster images for each of the cluster groups. Other embodiments are disclosed.