Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for triggering (i.e., initiating, launching, or running) a software application (e.g., an interactive game application) or other computer program or application on a user device (e.g., a computer, etc.) based on multimedia content being provided to (e.g., displayed on) a different user device (e.g., a different computer, a television, etc.). The methods may comprise displaying, using a first device, multimedia content. A multimedia-analysis process may then be performed to determine an attribute of the multimedia content being displayed. These attributes may be used to acquire (e.g., select or produce) a software application comprising one or more elements that relate to the multimedia content. The software application may then be launched (i.e., triggered, initiated, or run) on a second device, the second device being different from the first device.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for triggering (i.e., initiating, launching, or running) a software application (e.g., an interactive game application) or other computer program or application on a user device (e.g., a computer, etc.) based on multimedia content being provided to (e.g., displayed on) a different user device (e.g., a different computer, a television, etc.). The methods may comprise displaying, using a first device, multimedia content. A multimedia-analysis process may then be performed to determine an attribute of the multimedia content being displayed. These attributes may be used to acquire (e.g., select or produce) a software application comprising one or more elements that relate to the multimedia content. The software application may then be launched (i.e., triggered, initiated, or run) on a second device, the second device being different from the first device.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for triggering (i.e., initiating, launching, or running) a software application (e.g., an interactive game application) or other computer program or application on a user device (e.g., a computer, etc.) based on multimedia content being provided to (e.g., displayed on) a different user device (e.g., a different computer, a television, etc.). The methods may comprise displaying, using a first device, multimedia content. A multimedia-analysis process may then be performed to determine an attribute of the multimedia content being displayed. These attributes may be used to acquire (e.g., select or produce) a software application comprising one or more elements that relate to the multimedia content. The software application may then be launched (i.e., triggered, initiated, or run) on a second device, the second device being different from the first device.

Abstract: Particular embodiments use a multi-view coding (MVC) extension to provide second-screen content along with the first-screen content. In one embodiment, a head-end multiplexes the first-screen content with the second-screen content into a single content stream. The second-screen content is added to the video stream according to the MVC extension requirements. At the user end, such as at a gateway, instead of sending the first-screen content and second-screen content to the first-screen device, the gateway de-multiplexes the first-screen content and the second-screen content. The gateway can then send the first-screen content to the first-screen device while caching the second-screen content. When the gateway determines that the second-screen content should be displayed on the second-screen device, the gateway can send the second-screen content to the second-screen device for display on the second-screen of the second-screen device.

Abstract: Particular embodiments use a multi-view coding (MVC) extension to provide second-screen content along with the first-screen content. In one embodiment, a head-end multiplexes the first-screen content with the second-screen content into a single content stream. The second-screen content is added to the video stream according to the MVC extension requirements. At the user end, such as at a gateway, instead of sending the first-screen content and second-screen content to the first-screen device, the gateway de-multiplexes the first-screen content and the second-screen content. The gateway can then send the first-screen content to the first-screen device while caching the second-screen content. When the gateway determines that the second-screen content should be displayed on the second-screen device, the gateway can send the second-screen content to the second-screen device for display on the second-screen of the second-screen device.

Abstract: The present invention monitors a user's activities to determine how much attention he is paying to one or more devices. Based on the information gathered about the user's current “attention profile,” a “user-interaction parameter” is set that reflects where the user's attention is focused and, ideally, how much of his attention is given to each device. Then, based on the user-interaction parameter, the user interface of at least one of the user's devices is configured to optimize the user's interactions, given the amount of attention he is currently giving to this user interface. If the user is giving the majority of his attention to the television, for example, then the user interface of a companion device can be configured to emphasize the types of interactions available to a user who is not actively watching the companion device.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: In a device that is a member of an ad-hoc group in a network, a method includes determining an encounter history of the device with other devices in the ad-hoc group and filtering content intended to be shared by the device with the ad-hoc group based on the encounter history. A device includes a network interface to communicate with other devices in an ad-hoc group of a network and a disclosure assessment agent to determine a disclosure factor for disclosure of content to the ad-hoc group based on an encounter history of the device with other devices in the ad-hoc group. The device further includes a disclosure filter agent to filter content intended to be shared with the ad-hoc group based on the disclosure factor.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for triggering (i.e., initiating, launching, or running) a software application (e.g., an interactive game application) or other computer program or application on a user device (e.g., a computer, etc.) based on multimedia content being provided to (e.g., displayed on) a different user device (e.g., a different computer, a television, etc.). The methods may comprise displaying, using a first device, multimedia content. A multimedia-analysis process may then be performed to determine an attribute of the multimedia content being displayed. These attributes may be used to acquire (e.g., select or produce) a software application comprising one or more elements that relate to the multimedia content. The software application may then be launched (i.e., triggered, initiated, or run) on a second device, the second device being different from the first device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for sending information from a first computer to a second computer. The first computer may comprise a gesture module, a device-detection module, and a transmission module. The method may comprise receiving, by the gesture module, an input. The input may specify the information that is to be sent and a direction relative to the first computer. The input may have been generated by a user of the first computer performing a gesture. Using the specified direction, the device-detection module may then identify the second computer. The second computer may be located relative to the first computer substantially in the specified direction. The specified information may then be sent, by the transmission module, to the second computer.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing display data. The display data specify one or more presentations (e.g., digital signage information) for displaying to a user on an end-user device (e.g., a digital signage device). One or more processors receive one or more criteria (e.g., “user preferences”) and the display data. The one or more processors select some or all of the received display data. This selection may be dependent upon the one or more criteria. The one or more processors then provide, for display by the end-user device, the selected display data. This provision may be dependent upon the one or more criteria.

Abstract: The present invention monitors a user's activities to determine how much attention he is paying to one or more devices. Based on the information gathered about the user's current “attention profile,” a “user-interaction parameter” is set that reflects where the user's attention is focused and, ideally, how much of his attention is given to each device. Then, based on the user-interaction parameter, the user interface of at least one of the user's devices is configured to optimize the user's interactions, given the amount of attention he is currently giving to this user interface. If the user is giving the majority of his attention to the television, for example, then the user interface of a companion device can be configured to emphasize the types of interactions available to a user who is not actively watching the companion device.

Abstract: The present invention monitors a user's activities to determine how much attention he is paying to one or more devices. Based on the information gathered about the user's current “attention profile,” a “user-interaction parameter” is set that reflects where the user's attention is focused and, ideally, how much of his attention is given to each device. Then, based on the user-interaction parameter, the user interface of at least one of the user's devices is configured to optimize the user's interactions, given the amount of attention he is currently giving to this user interface. If the user is giving the majority of his attention to the television, for example, then the user interface of a companion device can be configured to emphasize the types of interactions available to a user who is not actively watching the companion device.