Abstract: A demonstration video game permits garners a more complete game experience while promoting a desire to acquire permission to continue playing. In some embodiments, a video game is implemented with trigger metrics. While a user may initially experience most or all of the full version of the game in a demonstration mode, the mode implements trigger metrics to erode game play characteristics, such as character, object, event and/or environmental features, during video game play in the demonstration mode. Thus, fewer play characteristics may be available as play continues in this mode. Multiple trigger metrics may gradually and successively limit play characteristics as play with the game continues. As the gamer loses functionality, the user may be prompted with the trigger metrics to purchase permission to continue the game in a non-demonstration mode that disables the trigger metrics and returns the game to the more complete version.

Abstract: Forward error correction may be implemented in a network having first, second, third and fourth nodes. The second node receives streaming media message packets and one or more check packets from an upstream first node. The second node transmits the message packets and check packets to a downstream third node. The second node transmits a second set of one or more check packets to a fourth node that is downstream of the third node.

Abstract: Methods and techniques for use in the operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining an activity level of a user in relation to the game apparatus or other system. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for performing such methods and techniques is also included, as well as an example system for implementation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for defining and tracking advertising campaigns across a channel video game network are disclosed. The system allows advertisements to be dynamically activated in video games. Advertisements are tracked to determine user impressions and user exposure to the advertisement. In the system, an impression area is defined relative an advertisements in the game.

Abstract: Systems and methods for defining and tracking advertising campaigns across a channel video game network are disclosed. The system allows advertisements to be dynamically activated in video games. Advertisements are tracked to determine user impressions and user exposure to the advertisement. In the system, an impression area is defined relative an advertisements in the game.

Abstract: A gaming peripheral for use during play of an electronic video game includes a releasably engageable release element which disengages in accordance with game play. Disengagement of the release element is selectably controllable and based on receipt of an electronic trigger signal transmitted from a gaming console on which the game is being played. The release element is engaged by a player applying a manual force to the peripheral.

Abstract: Forward error correction may be implemented in a network having first, second and third nodes. The second node receives streaming media message packets and one or more check packets from an upstream first node. The second node transmits the message packets and check packets to a downstream third node. The second node uses the check packets to decode missing message packets and transmits the decoded missing packets to the third node before the missing message packets are to be presented by the third node. The third node may receive message packets and a first set of check packets from the second node and a second set of check packets from the first node. The third node may use check packets from both sets to decode missing message packets.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. The method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. In another operation the image and depth data is analyzed to find one or more of the group of recognized fixed points. In one embodiment, the previous two operations are repeated and changes of position of the controller are determined based on a change in position of the found ones of the group of recognized fixed points.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided to automatically apply predefined privileges for identified and tracked users in a space having one or more media sources. The method includes an operation to define and save to memory, a user profile. The user profile may include data that identifies and tracks a user with a depth-sensing camera. In another operation privileges that define levels of access to particular media for the user profile are defined and saved. The method also includes an operation to capture image and depth data from the depth-sensing camera of a scene within the space. In yet another operation, the user is tracked and identified within the scene from the image and depth data. In still another operation the defined privileges are automatically applied to one or more media sources, so that the user is granted access to selected content from the one or more media sources when identified and tracked within the scene.

Abstract: Information in the form of emotional responses to a media presentation may be passively collected, for example by a microphone and/or a camera. This information may be tied to metadata at a time reference level in the media presentation and used to examine the content of the media presentation to assess a quality of, or user emotional response to, the content and/or to project the information onto a demographic. Passive collection of emotional responses may be used to add emotion as an element of speech or facial expression detection, to make use of such information, for example to judge the quality of content or to judge the nature of various individuals for future content that is to be provided to them or to those similarly situated demographically.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided to interactively capture and utilize a three-dimensional object as a controlling device for a computer system. One operation of the method is capturing depth data of the three-dimensional object. In another operation, the depth data of the three-dimensional object undergoes processing to create geometric defining parameters for the three-dimensional object. The method can also include defining correlations between particular actions performed with the three-dimensional object and particular actions to be performed by the computer system. The method also includes an operation to save the geometric defining parameters of the three-dimensional object to a recognized object database. In another operation, the correlations between particular actions performed with the three-dimensional object and particular actions to be performed by the computer system in response to recognizing the particular actions are also saved to the recognized object database.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for adjusting a level of monitoring of the activity of users in an online community are described. Aspects include a triggering mechanism being activated by a community member in response to inappropriate activity by another community member. Receiving a time based history of community members activity around a time of the triggering mechanism being activated. Recreating the community activity from the time based history. Evaluating activities of the community members to determine if there was inappropriate activity and if there is inappropriate activity by an offending community member applying online resources to track the activities of the offending community member.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for detecting and discouraging cheating in an online game session are described. Aspects include playing an online game. During play of the game one of the players detects suspected cheating behavior by another online game player. Game information is collected about the activity of all players in the online game, the game information includes a period of the game during which the suspected cheating behavior occurred. The game information is communicated to a game cheat monitoring entity that evaluates the game information to determine if there was cheating activity, and if there was cheating activity appropriate action is taken.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for improving an integrity of an online game include engaging in an online game session by a tester. The tester observing unexpected operation of the online game and pressing a triggering mechanism in response to the unexpected operation. Then capturing a time-based history of the online game session, and communicating the time-based history to a network entity where it is determined if the online game operation malfunctioned.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for moderating activity in an online community are described. Aspects include a triggering mechanism being activated by a community member in response to inappropriate activity by another community member. Receiving a time based history of community members activity around a time of the triggering mechanism being activated. Recreating the community activity from the time based history. Evaluating activities of the community members to determine if there was inappropriate activity and if there is inappropriate activity by an offending community member taking appropriate action against the offending community member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an application, detect a participant that is utilizing the application, detect a qualifying event, and transmit an audio signature associated with the participant to a recipient wherein the recipient utilizes the application.

Abstract: A method for enhancing entertainment through haptic insertion includes monitoring signal(s) during the execution of entertainment software, recognizing that the monitored signal(s) satisfy predetermined criteria, and generating a haptic control signal in response to enhance an entertainment experience. Monitored signals may include, for example, audio signals, video signals, data signals, control signals, and the like. Entertainment software may include, for example, a video game, an audio-visual work, an audio work, and the like. A device for enhancing entertainment software through haptic insertion includes at least one processors and an output unit coupled to the processor(s) and including a haptic control output.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering content over a network is provided. Content may be primary content (e.g., music or a movie) or ancillary content (e.g., an advertisement). The ancillary content may further be classified as universal ancillary content that all users of the present system will receive; targeted ancillary content that particular users of the present system will receive; and context-specific ancillary content that users of the present system and viewing particular primary content will receive. The type of primary and/or ancillary content delivered to the user will depend, in part, on indicia of the user of a device receiving the content. The present invention seeks to ensure that a user has relevant and up-to-date ancillary content notwithstanding the nature or date of the primary content.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect content and content information wherein the content information is related to the content; detect a user and user information wherein the user information is related to the user; match the content information with the user information; select the user based on the matching; detect a user input based on the user utilizing the content; and modify the user information and the content information based on the user input.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an application; detect a participant within the application; detect a distance between multiple participants; monitor the application for a qualifying event; and selectively initiate a communication channel between multiple participants based on the qualifying event and the distance between the multiple participants.