Abstract: A method for collaborative sketch annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a sketch annotation, enabling the first user to store sketch annotation data related to the sketch annotation, and enabling a second user to access the sketch annotation. The second user may navigate the program using the sketch annotation and/or an indication of the sketch annotation. The first user may create the sketch annotation while viewing the program, for example, and the program may be paused for adding the sketch annotation to one or more paused frames. The sketch annotations may include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the sketch annotation within the program.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to collect data indicative of temporal actions initiated by a group of users during presenting a media program. The data indicative of the temporal actions are collected in a collective metadata archive. Portions of the media program are identified based on metadata for which a number of occurrences of the temporal actions exceeds a threshold number of occurrences. A compacted presentation of the portions of the media program is prepared based on the metadata. The compacted presentation includes the portions of the media program arranged consecutively. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: A method for collaborative sketch annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a sketch annotation, enabling the first user to store sketch annotation data related to the sketch annotation, and enabling a second user to access the sketch annotation. The second user may navigate the program using the sketch annotation and/or an indication of the sketch annotation. The first user may create the sketch annotation while viewing the program, for example, and the program may be paused for adding the sketch annotation to one or more paused frames. The sketch annotations may include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the sketch annotation within the program.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods present a graphics based electronic programming guide (EPG) that organizes available content in radial fashion on a display. Which content appears on a screen shot of the EPG may be determined using rating data, user preferences or collaborative filtering. Through collaborative filtering, disclosed embodiments may predict which programs a user may like according to group member ratings. Some disclosed EPGs include a mosaic with graphical indications of an overall rating and graphical indications of which of a plurality of characteristics (e.g., genres) apply to multimedia programs.

Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a media server, a request to create a media content summary. The request includes a user-specified criterion. The method also includes generating resized segments by automatically changing a size of each of one or more segments of media content until a total size of the resized segments satisfies the user-specified criterion and including the resized segments in the media content summary.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to collect data indicative of temporal actions initiated by a group of users during presenting a media program. The data indicative of the temporal actions are collected in a collective metadata archive. Portions of the media program are identified based on metadata for which a number of occurrences of the temporal actions exceeds a threshold number of occurrences. A compacted presentation of the portions of the media program is prepared based on the metadata. The compacted presentation includes the portions of the media program arranged consecutively. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving, at a media server, a request from a first viewer to create a media content server including select segments of media content for display at a display device. The computer implemented method includes accessing a media content analyzer generated based on viewer annotation data associated with media content. The viewer annotation data is received from viewers other than the first viewer. The computer implemented method includes identifying segments of the media content using the media content analyzer. The computer implemented method includes selecting at least one segment of the identified segments of the media content for inclusion in a media content summary. The computer implemented method includes sending the media content summary including the at least one selected segment of the media content to the display device.

Abstract: Sensors on vehicles may be used to automatically obtain data about events and conditions pertaining to vehicles. The data may be automatically provided to a server, third party, agency, subscriber, a vehicle, a driver, or the like. In example embodiments, data may be obtained regarding vehicles pertaining to, for example, location, braking, acceleration, turning, stopping, speed, direction, video data (e.g., via a camera on the vehicle), tire pressure, depth, or the like, or any appropriate combination thereof. The obtained data may aggregated. The aggregated data may be utilized to determine if events related to the vehicle are occurring and to determine a condition associated with the event.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing collaborative viewing of a media stream are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a viewing group having a plurality of members, and provides at least one media stream that is accessible by the plurality of members of the viewing group. The method then receives one or more annotations from at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group relating to the at least one media stream, and saves each of the one or more annotations with a temporal marker. The method then provides the one or more annotations to at least one of the plurality of members of the viewing group.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.