Abstract: In one aspect, a method is disclosed. The method includes identifying, by a content-presentation device, an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, where the identified upcoming content modification opportunity relates to a modifiable content-segment. The method also includes receiving, by the content-presentation device, the modifiable content-segment. The method further includes performing, by the content-presentation device, a set of operations to prepare the content-presentation device to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the identified channel. The method additionally includes receiving, by the content-presentation device, an instruction to operate in a test mode. The method also includes responsive to receiving the instruction, outputting, by the content-presentation device, for presentation the modifiable content-segment without a modification that relates to supplemental content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for managing content replacement in a content modification system, which can be applicable to dynamic advertisement insertion. A media device can provide a first segment of a linear sequence of content segments to a display device. The first segment can include an ending frame adjacent to a start frame of a second segment of the linear sequence of content segments, where the second segment is to be replaced by a replacement segment. Based on a determination that the replacement segment is unavailable, the media device can provide one or more additional copies of the ending frame of the first segment to the display device while the replacement segment to replace the second segment is unavailable.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes using, at least in part, an amount of content-presentation devices in the identified group as a basis to determine an amount of system resources to request. The method also includes requesting the determined amount of system resources for use in performing actions that facilitate at least a portion of the content-presentation devices in the identified group performing respective content-modification operations.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing system, a probability of whether at least a threshold portion of a particular advertisement will be presented on a particular content presentation device, and a cost associated with presentation of the particular advertisement on the particular content presentation device. The computing system calculates an expected revenue associated with presentation of the particular advertisement based on the probability and the cost. When the expected revenue exceeds a threshold revenue, the computing system communicates the particular advertisement to the particular content presentation device.

Abstract: A method and system for adjustment of replacement content duration in content modification operations. An example method includes determining a duration of a modifiable content segment in a media sequence being received by a content-presentation device. The example method then includes selecting a supplemental content segment based on the selected supplemental content segment having a duration within a predefined threshold range of the determined duration of the modifiable content segment. The example method further includes altering the duration of the selected supplemental content segment to be the same as the duration of the modifiable content segment. And, the example method includes causing the altered supplemental content segment to be transmitted to the content-presentation device to facilitate dynamic replacement of the modifiable content segment with the altered supplemental content segment.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes for each content-presentation device in the identified group, determining a respective probability of that content-presentation device successfully performing a respective content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel. The method also includes using at least the determined probabilities as a basis to select, from among the content-presentation devices in the identified group, a subgroup of content-presentation devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for managing content replacement in a content modification system, which can be applicable to dynamic advertisement insertion. A media device can provide a first segment of a linear sequence of content segments to a display device. The first segment can include an ending frame adjacent to a start frame of a second segment of the linear sequence of content segments, where the second segment is to be replaced by a replacement segment. Based on a determination that the replacement segment is unavailable, the media device can provide one or more additional copies of the ending frame of the first segment to the display device while the replacement segment to replace the second segment is unavailable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for replacing digital content. An example embodiment operates by detecting a segment of a data stream to be output by a media device and generating a fingerprint of digital content corresponding to the segment using automatic content recognition (ACR). The example embodiment further operates by comparing the fingerprint with a plurality of fingerprints of a plurality of digital content, identifying a matched fingerprint of a matched digital content, and comparing metadata of the matched digital content with metadata of a restricted digital content. The example embodiment further operates by determining that the digital content corresponding to the segment is blocked from being output by the media stream and replacing the digital content with new digital content in the segment.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes for each content-presentation device in the identified group, determining a respective probability of that content-presentation device successfully performing a respective content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel. The method also includes using at least the determined probabilities as a basis to select, from among the content-presentation devices in the identified group, a subgroup of content-presentation devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for managing content replacement in a content modification system, which can be applicable to dynamic advertisement insertion. A media device can provide a first segment of a linear sequence of content segments to a display device. The first segment can include an ending frame adjacent to a start frame of a second segment of the linear sequence of content segments, where the second segment is to be replaced by a replacement segment. Based on a determination that the replacement segment is unavailable, the media device can provide one or more additional copies of the ending frame of the first segment to the display device while the replacement segment to replace the second segment is unavailable.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a request for supplemental content for use by a content-presentation device that is scheduled to perform a content-modification operation at a start-time and, in response to the request: receiving, into a first buffer of the content-presentation device, first supplemental content having a first video quality that is higher than or equal to a predefined threshold, and receiving, into a second, different buffer of the content-presentation device, second supplemental content having a second video quality lower than the predefined threshold. The method also includes within a predefined time period before the start-time, determining whether an entirety of the first supplemental content has been received into the first buffer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes (i) accessing broadcast-schedule data associated with a channel; (ii) using the accessed broadcast-schedule data to identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel; (iii) responsive to identifying the upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the channel; and (iv) causing supplemental content to be transmitted to the identified content-presentation device, to facilitate the identified content-presentation device performing a content-modification operation related to the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes for each content-presentation device in the identified group, determining a respective probability of that content-presentation device successfully performing a respective content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel. The method also includes using at least the determined probabilities as a basis to select, from among the content-presentation devices in the identified group, a subgroup of content-presentation devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for coordinating the display of content segments in linear TV devices and over-the-top (OTT) media devices. A controller can select a content segment from a plurality of content segments of linear TV content provided to a plurality of linear TV devices to be displayed at a TV channel at a scheduled time instance. The controller can further select an OTT time instance separated from the scheduled time instance by a predetermined time interval, and provide a copy of the selected content segment to one or more media devices to be displayed at the one or more media devices at the OTT time instance.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving first content at a content-presentation device and presenting the first content, the first content comprising a first audio-content component. The content-presentation device may receive second content comprising a second audio-content component. The content-presentation device may determine a switch time at which to switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a first time interval prior to the switch time and ending at the switch time, the volume of the first audio-content component may be decreased to zero. At the switch time, the content-presentation device may switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a second time interval beginning at the switch time and ending at a second time after the switch time, the volume of the second audio-content component may be increased from zero to a non-zero volume level.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing system, a probability of whether at least a threshold portion of a particular advertisement will be presented on a particular content presentation device, and a cost associated with presentation of the particular advertisement on the particular content presentation device. The computing system calculates an expected revenue associated with presentation of the particular advertisement based on the probability and the cost. When the expected revenue exceeds a threshold revenue, the computing system communicates the particular advertisement to the particular content presentation device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on a channel. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a group of multiple content-presentation devices tuned to the channel. The method also includes for each content-presentation device in the identified group, determining a respective probability of that content-presentation device successfully performing a respective content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel. The method also includes using at least the determined probabilities as a basis to select, from among the content-presentation devices in the identified group, a subgroup of content-presentation devices.

Abstract: A method implemented by a computing system includes receiving, from each of a plurality of content presentation devices, a request for supplemental content. Each content presentation device is configured to present program content received from a content distribution system, wherein the program content is associated with a program schedule that specifies an advertisement start time. The computing system determines, for each of the plurality of content presentation devices, a supplemental content processing time that corresponds to an amount of time required by a particular content presentation device to receive the supplemental content to facilitate presentation of the supplemental content. The computing system schedules the plurality of content presentation devices to receive requested supplemental content according to corresponding supplemental content processing times and advertisement start times.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving, by a content-management system and from a content-presentation device, a request for supplemental content, such as a replacement advertisement. The content-management system may then determine a technical characteristic of the content-presentation device and select supplemental content based at least in part on at least the determined technical characteristic of the content-presentation device. The content-management system may then cause the selected supplemental content to be transmitted to the content-presentation device to facilitate the content-presentation device performing a content modification operation.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing system, a probability of whether at least a threshold portion of a particular advertisement will be presented on a particular content presentation device, and a cost associated with presentation of the particular advertisement on the particular content presentation device. The computing system calculates an expected revenue associated with presentation of the particular advertisement based on the probability and the cost. When the expected revenue exceeds a threshold revenue, the computing system communicates the particular advertisement to the particular content presentation device.