Abstract: To determine an impression metric for an organization, a server device generates a statistical model for estimating the impression metric using machine learning techniques. The server device obtains training data for the statistical model by randomly selecting geographic locations within a geographic area and determining the number of users eligible to receive a particular type of advertisement for each randomly selected geographic location. For example, a user may be deemed eligible when displaying the geographic location via a mapping application. When an organization requests an estimate of a number of impressions for an advertising campaign, the server device applies data included in the request (e.g., the time period for the advertising campaign, the number of organization locations, identifiers for the organization locations such as geographic coordinates or an address, etc.) to the statistical model to estimate an impression metric for the organization.

Abstract: To determine an impression metric for an organization, a server device generates a statistical model for estimating the impression metric using machine learning techniques. The server device obtains training data for the statistical model by randomly selecting geographic locations within a geographic area and determining the number of users eligible to receive a particular type of advertisement for each randomly selected geographic location. For example, a user may be deemed eligible when displaying the geographic location via a mapping application. When an organization requests an estimate of a number of impressions for an advertising campaign, the server device applies data included in the request (e.g., the time period for the advertising campaign, the number of organization locations, identifiers for the organization locations such as geographic coordinates or an address, etc.) to the statistical model to estimate an impression metric for the organization.

Abstract: To measure the increase in location awareness for an organization's locations using a map display, a server device identifies each of the locations belonging to an organization and applies a random filter to select a subset of the locations. An indication of the organization is presented on a map display at each of the selected organization locations within the subset. When an indication of the organization location is presented to a user a threshold number of times, an icon such as a question mark may be presented in place of the indication at the organization location. The icon may provide a link to a location awareness survey which may request that the user identifies the organization corresponding to the location. Several users may receive the location awareness survey for the same organization location and the users' answers may then be analyzed to determine a location awareness metric.

Abstract: To measure the increase in location awareness for an organization's locations using a map display, a server device identifies each of the locations belonging to an organization and applies a random filter to select a subset of the locations. An indication of the organization is presented on a map display at each of the selected organization locations within the subset. When an indication of the organization location is presented to a user a threshold number of times, an icon such as a question mark may be presented in place of the indication at the organization location. The icon may provide a link to a location awareness survey which may request that the user identifies the organization corresponding to the location. Several users may receive the location awareness survey for the same organization location and the users' answers may then be analyzed to determine a location awareness metric.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Increased user interaction performance in group settings is achieved by providing individually interactive secondary content to individual users of a group of users, including a group that is consuming content from a single display device. A group of users is defined based upon detected commonalities. Secondary content is concurrently presented to the defined group of users and includes both non-interactive and interactive content. The interactive content is individually and separately presented to multiple users of the defined group, including co-located users that were consuming the primary content from a single physical display device. The individual and separate presentation includes presenting multiple panels, or sub-divisions, on the single physical display device, with individual, separate panels directed to individual ones of the multiple co-located users and the utilization of personal computing devices that are associated with specific ones of the multiple co-located users.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: Increased user interaction performance in group settings is achieved by providing individually interactive secondary content to individual users of a group of users, including a group that is consuming content from a single display device. A group of users is defined based upon detected commonalities. Secondary content is concurrently presented to the defined group of users and includes both non-interactive and interactive content. The interactive content is individually and separately presented to multiple users of the defined group, including co-located users that were consuming the primary content from a single physical display device. The individual and separate presentation includes presenting multiple panels, or sub-divisions, on the single physical display device, with individual, separate panels directed to individual ones of the multiple co-located users and the utilization of personal computing devices that are associated with specific ones of the multiple co-located users.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked contents. Linked contents may include a preliminary content and one or more subsequent contents. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent content upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary content. The subsequent content is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent content should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase a good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary content may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an audience-aware advertising that are advertisements coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. An audience-aware advertising pod is a container for advertising content that is shown in association with a media presentation. The audience-aware advertising pod may include multiple advertisements shown during a commercial break in the primary content. The advertisements may be selected for display within a media presentation in real time based on audience members' attention level and response. Audience profiles may be generated and stored locally. The audience profile may be used to determine when an ad is displayed and what advertisement is displayed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described herein for aggregating viewing data for one or more types of media content. Image data depicting a viewing area of a display device are received. A type of media content being displayed on the display device when the images are captured is identified. Based on the image data, a number of persons may be determined, as well as characteristics about the persons, responses of the persons toward the media content, and levels of engagement of the persons in the media content, or a portion thereof. Each determined item of information may comprise a viewing record for the media content. The viewing records for the media content may then be aggregated to create viewing data for the content, and the viewing data may be distributed to a content provider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an overlay experience that is coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. Exemplary media presentations include television, movies, games, and music. An overlay is visible content displayed concurrently with primary content. The overlay may obscure part of the primary content, but not all of the primary content. Embodiments of the present invention use audience data to select an appropriate overlay from one of several overlays available. The audience data may be derived from image data generated by an image-capture device, such as a video camera, that has a view of the audience area. Automated image analysis may be used to generate audience data that is used to select the overlay.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.