Abstract: Methods and systems generate improved viewership of and interest in content including live events, sporting events, and reality shows utilizing improved content delivery (including streaming content delivery, primary content delivery, and secondary content delivery), analysis of media content items, user interaction, automatic control without user interaction, display configurations, user interfaces, selectable options, live and non-live content, temporal considerations, determinations, predictions, likelihoods, measurements of user interestedness, measurements of relatedness, content availability, user-generated content, identification and delivery of content of particular interest to a user, metadata analysis, playlist generation, and concurrent live content availability. Based on these improvements, dynamic streaming content feeds are generated, which are specifically adapted to the determined interests of a user or a clustered group of users in order to increase viewership of and interest in content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session. In particular, group communications for a group watching session displaying a media content item to multiple users is initiated, one or more communication clusters for the group communication is generated, a user preference of a first user of the multiple users participating in the group communication is determined, and, based on the user preference, the first user is assigned to a first communication cluster of the one or more communication clusters for communication with another of the multiple users.

Abstract: The system and methods described aid content delivery by providing requested content using a hybrid delivery of unicast and multicast content. A content delivery system receives, from user equipment, a request for content and identifies multicast sources for the content. The content delivery system determines a recent multicast source from the multicast sources, the recent multicast source having begun more recently relative to the other sources. The content delivery system transmits, to the user equipment, an identity of the recent multicast source and provides a beginning portion of the content to the user equipment via a unicast stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing operations associated with blocked media assets using two-factor authentication. In some aspects, a media guidance application (e.g., executed by a set-top box or other user equipment used to store and display media assets) prompts a user for a password (e.g., a personal information number) in order to unlock the content for viewing. In response to receiving a second request from the user to perform an operation related to the media asset (e.g., delete), the media guidance application prompts the user for an additional factor confirming his or her identity, consistent with two-factor authentication protocol. If the user's identity is authenticated as a user that has authority to perform the operation related to the media asset (e.g., delete the stored media asset), the media guidance application performs the operation related to the media asset (e.g., deletes the media asset).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session, in which a group watching session for presentation of a media content item is initiated at a first participant device and a second participant device; a segment of the media content item for which the presentation of the media content item is to be synchronized at the first participant device and the second participant device is identified; a viewing progress of the media content item at the first participant device is determined to be different from a viewing progress of the media content item at the second participant device; and in response to the determining, the viewing progress at the first and second participant devices is synchronized for the presentation of the identified segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing notifications without breaking media immersion. A notification delivery application receives notification data while a media device provides a media asset. In response to receiving the notification data while the media device provides the media asset, the notification delivery application generates a voice model based on a voice detected in the media asset. The notification delivery application converts the notification data to synthesized speech using the voice model and generates, by the media device, the synthesized speech for output at an appropriate point in the media asset based on contextual features of the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing contextual search results. The system may receive a search query during presentation of a video. If the query is ambiguous, the system accesses some of the frames of the video. The frames are analyzed to identify a performed action depicted in the frames. The system retrieves a keyword related to the identified action. The ambiguous query is augmented with the keyword. The augmented search query is used to search for and output relevant search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for generating an augmented reality (“AR”) display with user interface (“UI”) elements that respond to changes in pupil characteristics in response to detecting device streaming content. A media stream playing on a device that is within a threshold distance of the AR device is detected. The source of the media stream is identified. The AR device queries the source of the media stream for a consumption option. An AR overlay is generated and comprises selectable UI elements corresponding to the consumption options. In response to receiving an input at a UI element, the AR overlay is generated based on the consumption option.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing notifications without breaking media immersion. A notification delivery application receives notification data while a media device provides a media asset. In response to receiving the notification data while the media device provides the media asset, the notification delivery application generates a voice model based on a voice detected in the media asset. The notification delivery application converts the notification data to synthesized speech using the voice model and generates, by the media device, the synthesized speech for output at an appropriate point in the media asset based on contextual features of the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for enhancing media or information consumption. An example method includes identifying a movement of a first user, identifying an object referenced by the movement of the first user external to the first user, and in response to determining that the object is at least partially obstructed from a field of view of a second user, generating, for display on a display that is within the field of view of the second user, a view of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for generating an augmented reality (“AR”) display with user interface (“UI”) elements that respond to changes in pupil characteristics in response to detecting device streaming content. A media stream playing on a device that is within a threshold distance of the AR device is detected. The source of the media stream is identified. The AR device queries the source of the media stream for a consumption option. An AR overlay is generated and comprises selectable UI elements corresponding to the consumption options. In response to receiving an input at a UI element, the AR overlay is generated based on the consumption option.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing notifications without breaking media immersion. A notification delivery application receives notification data while a media device provides a media asset. In response to receiving the notification data while the media device provides the media asset, the notification delivery application generates a voice model based on a voice detected in the media asset. The notification delivery application converts the notification data to synthesized speech using the voice model and generates, by the media device, the synthesized speech for output at an appropriate point in the media asset based on contextual features of the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session. In particular, group communications for a group watching session displaying a media content item to multiple users is initiated, one or more communication clusters for the group communication is generated, a user preference of a first user of the multiple users participating in the group communication is determined, and, based on the user preference, the first user is assigned to a first communication cluster of the one or more communication clusters for communication with another of the multiple users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing contextual search results. The system may receive a search query during presentation of a video. If the query is ambiguous, the system accesses some of the frames of the video. The frames are analyzed to identify a performed action depicted in the frames. The system retrieves a keyword related to the identified action. The ambiguous query is augmented with the keyword. The augmented search query is used to search for and output relevant search results.

Abstract: The system and methods described aid content delivery by providing requested content using a hybrid delivery of unicast and multicast content. A content delivery system receives, from user equipment, a request for content and identifies multicast sources for the content. The content delivery system determines a recent multicast source from the multicast sources, the recent multicast source having begun more recently relative to the other sources. The content delivery system transmits, to the user equipment, an identity of the recent multicast source and provides a beginning portion of the content to the user equipment via a unicast stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing notifications without breaking media immersion. A notification delivery application receives notification data while a media device provides a media asset. In response to receiving the notification data while the media device provides the media asset, the notification delivery application generates a voice model based on a voice detected in the media asset. The notification delivery application converts the notification data to synthesized speech using the voice model and generates, by the media device, the synthesized speech for output at an appropriate point in the media asset based on contextual features of the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for including supplemental content with segments based on the complexity of the segment. This may be accomplished by a system receiving complexity information related to a media asset and user information related to a viewer to determine if one or more segments of the media asset is complex for the user. If the system receives a trick play command, from the user, during a segment categorized as complex, the system can use the complexity information and user information to generate supplemental content, facilitating better user understanding of the complex segment.

Abstract: Methods and systems generate improved viewership of and interest in content including live events, sporting events, and reality shows utilizing improved content delivery (including streaming content delivery, primary content delivery, and secondary content delivery), analysis of media content items, user interaction, automatic control without user interaction, display configurations, user interfaces, selectable options, live and non-live content, temporal considerations, determinations, predictions, likelihoods, measurements of user interestedness, measurements of relatedness, content availability, user-generated content, identification and delivery of content of particular interest to a user, metadata analysis, playlist generation, and concurrent live content availability. Based on these improvements, dynamic streaming content feeds are generated, which are specifically adapted to the determined interests of a user or a clustered group of users in order to increase viewership of and interest in content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for including supplemental content with segments based on the complexity of the segment. This may be accomplished by a system receiving complexity information related to a media asset and user information related to a viewer to determine if one or more segments of the media asset is complex for the user. If the system receives a trick play command, from the user, during a segment categorized as complex, the system can use the complexity information and user information to generate supplemental content, facilitating better user understanding of the complex segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session, in which a group watching session for presentation of a media content item is initiated at a first participant device and a second participant device; a segment of the media content item for which the presentation of the media content item is to be synchronized at the first participant device and the second participant device is identified; a viewing progress of the media content item at the first participant device is determined to be different from a viewing progress of the media content item at the second participant device; and in response to the determining, the viewing progress at the first and second participant devices is synchronized for the presentation of the identified segment.