Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling verbal interaction with an NLUI application without relying on express wake terms. The NLUI application receives an audio input comprising a plurality of terms. In response to determining that none of the terms is an express wake term pre-programmed into the NLUI application, the NLUI application determines a topic for the plurality of terms. The NLUI application then determines whether the topic is within a plurality of topics for which a response should be generated. If the determined topic of the audio input is within the plurality of topics, the NLUI application generates a response to the audio input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for warning a user that media assets associated with another user depict the user with an undesired expression are provided. A plurality of media assets associated with a first user and depicting a second user may be identified. A set of expressions of the second user that the second user has indicated as undesirable may be retrieved. The depictions of the second user in the plurality of media assets and the expressions that the second user has indicated are undesirable may be compared. If it is determined that one or more of the media assets depict the second user with an undesirable expression, a notification may be generated to the second user indicating that one or more media assets of the first user depict the second user with an expression that the second user has indicated as undesirable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining periods of excessive noise for smart speaker voice commands. An electronic timeline of volume levels of currently playing content is made available to a smart speaker. From this timeline, periods of high content volume are determined, and the smart speaker alerts users during periods of high volume, requesting that they wait until the high-volume period has passed before issuing voice commands. In this manner, the smart speaker helps prevent voice commands that may not be detected, or may be detected inaccurately, due to the noise of the content currently being played.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing virality for a content item are disclosed herein. A content item is uploaded to a content sharing platform over a communication network. Feedback on the content item is received from the content sharing platform over the communication network. Based on the feedback, a virality score for the content item is determined and a determination is made as to whether the virality score meets a virality criterion. In response to a determination that the virality score does not meet the virality criterion, a virality enhancement technique is selected from a virality enhancement database, the content item is modified by applying the virality enhancement technique to the content item, and the modified content item is uploaded to the content sharing platform over the communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for altering a start time of an event based on indicia of how late event attendees will be for the event that are retrieved from location applications corresponding to each attendee of the attendees. For example, a media guidance application may determine a start time of an event, a location of the event, and attendees of the event. The media guidance application may determine location applications corresponding to the attendees. The media guidance application may query the location applications for arrival times of each attendee. The media guidance application may calculate a plurality of differences between each of the arrival times and the start time of the event. Based on the plurality of differences, the media guidance application may delay the start time of the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for curation of content, such as e-learning content or online instructional materials, according to particular criteria such as the amount of pictorial representations contained therein, the amount of verbal expression contained therein, and whether the content contains a summary. Other criteria may also be employed. Users may select any one or more of these and other criteria. Content is then sorted according to the selected criteria and presented as an ordered list of content that users can select for viewing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for warning a user that media assets associated with another user depict the user with an undesired expression are provided. A plurality of media assets associated with a first user and depicting a second user may be identified. A set of expressions of the second user that the second user has indicated as undesirable may be retrieved. The depictions of the second user in the plurality of media assets and the expressions that the second user has indicated are undesirable may be compared. If it is determined that one or more of the media assets depict the second user with an undesirable expression, a notification may be generated to the second user indicating that one or more media assets of the first user depict the second user with an expression that the second user has indicated as undesirable.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically selecting a target area to project content thereon. For example, a projection device receives content to be projected and content attributes of the content. The projection device also captures images of candidate areas and determines candidate area characteristics based on the captured images. The projection device generates a respective quality-of-projection indicator based on the content attributes and the candidate area characteristics. The projection device selects the candidate area with the highest quality-of-projection indicator as the target area on which the content is to be projected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for modifying a fast-forwarding speed based on a reaction time of a user when a frame of interest is detected. A media guidance application may receive a command from a user to fast-forward through a media asset and may execute a fast-forwarding operation through frames of the media asset. The media guidance application may detect that the fast-forwarding operation is approaching a frame of interest to the viewer. The media guidance application may reduce the fast-forwarding speed to a second speed slower than the first speed, where the second speed is determined based on an estimated reaction time of the user. The media guidance application may receive a command to resume playback from the user while the fast-forwarding operation is occurring at the second speed and may play back the media asset at a default playback speed from a point corresponding to a moment when the command was received.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling verbal interaction with an NLUI application without relying on express wake terms. The NLUI application receives an audio input comprising a plurality of terms. In response to determining that none of the terms is an express wake term pre-programmed into the NLUI application, the NLUI application determines a topic for the plurality of terms. The NLUI application then determines whether the topic is within a plurality of topics for which a response should be generated. If the determined topic of the audio input is within the plurality of topics, the NLUI application generates a response to the audio input.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining periods of excessive noise for smart speaker voice commands. An electronic timeline of volume levels of currently playing content is made available to a smart speaker. From this timeline, periods of high content volume are determined, and the smart speaker alerts users during periods of high volume, requesting that they wait until the high-volume period has passed before issuing voice commands. In this manner, the smart speaker helps prevent voice commands that may not be detected, or may be detected inaccurately, due to the noise of the content currently being played.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for modifying a fast-forwarding speed based on a reaction time of a user when a frame of interest is detected. A media guidance application may receive a command from a user to fast-forward through a media asset and may execute a fast-forwarding operation through frames of the media asset. The media guidance application may detect that the fast-forwarding operation is approaching a frame of interest to the viewer. The media guidance application may reduce the fast-forwarding speed to a second speed slower than the first speed, where the second speed is determined based on an estimated reaction time of the user. The media guidance application may receive a command to resume playback from the user while the fast-forwarding operation is occurring at the second speed and may play back the media asset at a default playback speed from a point corresponding to a moment when the command was received.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for automatically providing summarized views of a media asset in a multi-window user interface. For example, a media guidance application may generate a summary view of a media asset by including important content portions into the summary view based on metadata of the content portion. The media guidance application may display the summary view, and missed content in parallel at different windows of the same user equipment. The missed content and the summary view may be coordinated to be displayed in synchronization. In this way, when a user watches the summary view at a center window on the user equipment, the user may also have the option to watch the missed content displayed simultaneously on a side window to catch up on the missed content.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may be deployed in a system comprising a media player and a remote server operably connected to communicate with one another. The invention allows for a settings file to be stored on the remote server, the settings file comprising parameters useful for adjusting different settings on the media player such that rendering of a particular content to be made possible on the media player according to a user's predetermined taste by downloading the settings from the server onto the media player.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically selecting a target area to project content thereon. For example, a projection device receives content to be projected and content attributes of the content. The projection device also captures images of candidate areas and determines candidate area characteristics based on the captured images. The projection device generates a respective quality-of-projection indicator based on the content attributes and the candidate area characteristics. The projection device selects the candidate area with the highest quality-of-projection indicator as the target area on which the content is to be projected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for updating, using a specific process that reduces the resource requirements and ensures recommendation relevancy, a particular database that is used for recommending actors. A media guidance application may infrequently search a set of irrelevant actors for an actor who can be classified as a promising actor. The media guidance application may add any promising actor to a set of promising actors. The media guidance application may more frequently search the set of promising actors for an actor who can be classified as a relevant actor. Upon identifying a relevant actor, the media guidance application may include the relevant actor in a set of relevant actors. The media guidance application may then recommend actors to a user based on actors included in the set of relevant actors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for inserting an advertisement into a subtitle of a media asset for display as part of the subtitle of the media asset. By identifying text, which relates to products, mentioned in the subtitles of program annotations of a media asset, advertisement phrases can be associated with the specific text of the subtitle. Such advertisement phrases can then be inserted into the subtitles for display as part of the subtitle of the media asset. As users generally pay attention to the subtitle when watching a media asset, an advertisement displayed as part of the subtitle of the media asset can reach a user in an inexpensive and efficient way.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may be deployed in a system comprising a media player and a remote server operably connected to communicate with one another. The invention allows for a settings file to be stored on the remote server, the settings file comprising parameters useful for adjusting different settings on the media player such that rendering of a particular content to be made possible on the media player according to a user's predetermined taste by downloading the settings from the server onto the media player.

Abstract: Systems and methods for warning a user that media assets associated with another user depict the user with an undesired expression are provided. A plurality of media assets associated with a first user and depicting a second user may be identified. A set of expressions of the second user that the second user has indicated as undesirable may be retrieved. The depictions of the second user in the plurality of media assets and the expressions that the second user has indicated are undesirable may be compared. If it is determined that one or more of the media assets depict the second user with an undesirable expression, a notification may be generated to the second user indicating that one or more media assets of the first user depict the second user with an expression that the second user has indicated as undesirable.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for modifying a fast-forwarding speed based on a reaction time of a user when a frame of interest is detected. A media guidance application may receive a command from a user to fast-forward through a media asset and may execute a fast-forwarding operation through frames of the media asset. The media guidance application may detect that the fast-forwarding operation is approaching a frame of interest to the viewer. The media guidance application may reduce the fast-forwarding speed to a second speed slower than the first speed, where the second speed is determined based on an estimated reaction time of the user. The media guidance application may receive a command to resume playback from the user while the fast-forwarding operation is occurring at the second speed and may play back the media asset at a default playback speed from a point corresponding to a moment when the command was received.