Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes: (i) a computing system obtaining media content; (ii) the computing system extracting from the obtained media content, audio content; (iii) the computing system using at least the extracted audio content to obtain sentiment data associated with the audio content; (iv) the computing system using the obtained sentiment data as a basis to modify a video content component of the media content, thereby generating a modified version of the media content; and (v) the computing system outputting for presentation the generated modified media content.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, from a content-distribution system, video comprising a watermark; (ii) extracting the watermark from the video; (iii) based on the extracted watermark, determining a content-creation attribute of the video that indicates a process by which the video was created, wherein the determining comprises using the watermark to select the content-creation attribute from among a set of two or more content-creation attributes comprising organically-generated video and synthetically-generated video; and (iv) in response to determining the content-creation attribute of the video, causing a content-presentation device to perform an action.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for cue point discovery for content. For example, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof are provided for using unsupervised machine learning to automatically classify cue points for episodic content. The cue points can be associates with an opening credits section, an end credits section, a recap section, or a behind-the-scenes section.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving video content comprising a first data portion comprising parameters that control a visual appearance of frames of video content presented by a content-presentation device. The content-presentation device is communicatively coupled to a light unit that is (i) present in a viewing area of the content-presentation device and (ii) configured to provide ambient light in the viewing area. The method also includes extracting, from the received video content, a second data portion, separate from the first data portion, specifying one or more light control parameters that a controller associated with the light unit is configured to interpret as instructions for controlling the light unit. The method also includes transmitting the extracted second data portion to the controller to facilitate the controller controlling the light unit according to the specified one or more light control parameters.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use in connection with a media-presentation device having an associated presentation area, the method including: (i) obtaining presentation area data associated with the presentation area; (ii) determining that the obtained presentation area data satisfies each and every condition of a condition set; (iii) responsive to at least determining that the obtained presentation area data satisfies each and every condition of the condition set, identifying an upcoming media segment insertion point within a media program; and (iv) facilitating the media-presentation device outputting for presentation a media segment starting at the identified media segment insertion point within the media program.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use by a lighting device including a microphone and a light source, the method including: (i) receiving, by the lighting device via the microphone, an audio signal; (ii) decoding and extracting, by the lighting device, a lighting device control instruction from the received audio signal; and (iii) using, by the lighting device, at least the decoded and extracted lighting device control instruction as a basis to control operation of the light source.

Abstract: A method and a system for using crowdsourcing as a basis to predict and respond to emergency impact. An example method includes (i) a computing system receiving emergency-state reporting provided by multiple customer premises in a region, (ii) the computing system determining, based on the received emergency-state reporting provided by the multiple customer premises in the region, that a region-wide emergency situation exists in the region, and (iii) the computing system taking action, in response to the determining, based on the emergency-state reporting provided by the multiple customer premises in the region, that the region-wide emergency situation exists in the region.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use in connection with a media-presentation device presenting a media program via a display screen of the media-presentation device, the method including: (i) during presentation of a temporal portion of the media program, identifying an audience engagement region of presented content, wherein the identified audience engagement region is less than an entirety of a display area that corresponds to the display screen; (ii) using at least the identified audience engagement region as a basis to select a media segment from among multiple candidate media segments; (iii) identifying an upcoming media segment insertion point within the media program; and (iv) facilitating the media-presentation device inserting, at the identified media segment insertion point within the media program, the selected media segment.

Abstract: A method and system for use of context information to disambiguate an automation-configuration command. In an example method, a computing system receives a voice command uttered by a user into a voice-interface device, the voice command describing an Internet-of-Things (IoT) automation. Further, in response to receiving the voice command, the computing system determines, based on context information not specified by the voice command, which of multiple IoT devices should be a subject of an IoT rule that implements the described IoT automation, and provisions the IoT rule with the determined IoT device as the subject of the IoT rule. In example implementations, the context information could be based on network signaling between devices, ambient audio in the user's environment, and/or one or more other factors.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use in connection with a media-presentation device presenting a media program via a display screen of the media-presentation device, the method including: (i) during presentation of a temporal portion of the media program, identifying an audience engagement region of presented content, wherein the identified audience engagement region is less than an entirety of a display area that corresponds to the display screen; (ii) using at least the identified audience engagement region as a basis to select a media segment from among multiple candidate media segments; (iii) identifying an upcoming media segment insertion point within the media program; and (iv) facilitating the media-presentation device inserting, at the identified media segment insertion point within the media program, the selected media segment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for cue point discovery for content. For example, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof are provided for using unsupervised machine learning to automatically classify cue points for episodic content. The cue points can be associates with an opening credits section, an end credits section, a recap section, or a behind-the-scenes section.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use in connection with a media-presentation device having an associated presentation area, the method including: (i) obtaining presentation area data associated with the presentation area; (ii) determining that the obtained presentation area data satisfies each and every condition of a condition set; (iii) responsive to at least determining that the obtained presentation area data satisfies each and every condition of the condition set, identifying an upcoming media segment insertion point within a media program; and (iv) facilitating the media-presentation device outputting for presentation a media segment starting at the identified media segment insertion point within the media program.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving video content comprising a first data portion comprising parameters that control a visual appearance of frames of video content presented by a content-presentation device. The content-presentation device is communicatively coupled to a light unit that is (i) present in a viewing area of the content-presentation device and (ii) configured to provide ambient light in the viewing area. The method also includes extracting, from the received video content, a second data portion, separate from the first data portion, specifying one or more light control parameters that a controller associated with the light unit is configured to interpret as instructions for controlling the light unit. The method also includes transmitting the extracted second data portion to the controller to facilitate the controller controlling the light unit according to the specified one or more light control parameters.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method in connection with a shared content viewing session in which multiple users are receiving and viewing respective instances of the same media content in a synchronized manner is disclosed. The example method includes (i) detecting that each of the multiple users respectively exhibits a threshold extent of physical reaction around the same time; (ii) responsive to the detecting, for each of the multiple users, generating and/or storing respective visual content representing that user's physical reaction; (iii) generating a visual content composition that includes at least the generated and/or stored visual content for each of the multiple users; and (iv) outputting for presentation, the generated visual content composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, disclosed is an example method for use by a lighting device including a microphone and a light source, the method including: (i) receiving, by the lighting device via the microphone, an audio signal; (ii) decoding and extracting, by the lighting device, a lighting device control instruction from the received audio signal; and (iii) using, by the lighting device, at least the decoded and extracted lighting device control instruction as a basis to control operation of the light source.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining, by a computing system, structured data; (ii) generating, by the computing system using a natural language generator, a textual description of the structured data; (iii) transforming, by the computing system using a text-to-speech engine, the textual description of the structured data into synthesized speech; and (iv) generating, by the computing system using the synthesized speech, a synthetic video comprising the synthesized speech.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method for use in connection with an audio system that is configured to present audio within a listening area includes (i) detecting, by a computing system, a position of a user located within the listening area; (ii) using, by the computing system, at least the detected position of the user to identify, from among multiple candidate reference positions, a reference position that most closely matches the detected position of the user; (iii) using, by the computing system, at least the identified reference position as a basis to select a set of audio settings that corresponds to the identified reference position; and (iv) configuring, by the computing system, the audio system based on the selected set of audio settings.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system and from an input device associated with the computing system, a command to map a customized gesture with a particular action of a plurality of actions that a media player is configured to perform; (ii) in response to receiving the command, monitoring, by the computing system and using a camera, a viewing environment of the media player to detect performance by a person of the customized gesture; and (iii) in response to detecting performance of the customized gesture: generating, by the computing system, a classification for use by the computing system for detecting the customized gesture, and storing, by the computing system, in memory, mapping data that correlates the detected customized gesture with the particular action.

Abstract: A method and a system for using crowdsourcing as a basis to predict and respond to emergency impact. An example method includes (i) a computing system receiving emergency-state reporting provided by multiple customer premises in a region, (ii) the computing system determining, based on the received emergency-state reporting provided by the multiple customer premises in the region, that a region-wide emergency situation exists in the region, and (iii) the computing system taking action, in response to the determining, based on the emergency-state reporting provided by the multiple customer premises in the region, that the region-wide emergency situation exists in the region.

Abstract: In one aspect, an example method in connection with a shared content viewing session in which multiple users are receiving and viewing respective instances of the same media content in a synchronized manner is disclosed. The example method includes (i) detecting that each of the multiple users respectively exhibits a threshold extent of physical reaction around the same time; (ii) responsive to the detecting, for each of the multiple users, generating and/or storing respective visual content representing that user's physical reaction; (iii) generating a visual content composition that includes at least the generated and/or stored visual content for each of the multiple users; and (iv) outputting for presentation, the generated visual content composition.