Abstract: An image-based program state analysis method comprises the steps of, for a given image generated by a program, identifying at least a first location within the image occupied by a respective user interface element; identifying in the image a predetermined point on the respective user interface element; identifying the information conveyed by the respective user interface element, with reference to the predetermined point; and outputting the information for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A method of video evaluation for a video comprising successive video frames comprises the steps of, for successive video frame images: generating a perceptual hash of at least a first portion of a respective image, comparing the generated perceptual hash of a current video frame image with a corresponding perceptual hash of at least one preceding video frame image, and if a difference between the compared perceptual hashes exceeds a predetermined threshold, then identify the one preceding video frame as the boundary of a scene cut within the video.

Abstract: A method of video evaluation for a video comprising successive video frames comprises the steps of generating optical flow vectors for at least a subset of corresponding pixels between frame pairs, calculating a difference between corresponding optical flow vectors of successive frame pairs, and evaluating the resulting differences with respect to a predetermined criterion, to identify respective frame pairs for further processing.

Abstract: A method of video evaluation includes: for a current video frame, generating two or more metrics from the list consisting of an interframe greyscale delta sum of absolute differences between the current and immediately preceding frame, a first interframe colour delta sum of absolute differences for at least a first colour channel between the current and immediately preceding frame, a second interframe colour delta sum of absolute differences for at least a second colour channel different to the first colour channel between the current and immediately preceding frame, for a first colour channel of the current video frame, a delta between mean and current measurements of a property of the first colour channel, the mean being derived over a predetermined period of time, and for a second colour channel of the current video frame, a delta between mean and current measurements of a property of the second colour channel, the mean being derived over a similar predetermined period of time; generating respective z-scor

Abstract: A processing device for generating a group of users for a first user to complete a given task in a video game, completion requiring one or more in-game characteristics, the processing device comprising: an identification unit configured to identify one or more requirements of the given task; a selection unit configured to select one or more other users from a plurality of other users, wherein a respective one of the other users is selected in dependence upon at least one of the requirements and one or more in-game characteristics associated with the respective other user; and a group generation unit configured to generate the group for the first user to complete the given task, the generated group comprising the first user and the one or more selected other users.

Abstract: A peer highlight generation apparatus comprises receiving circuitry configured to receive peer profile data associated with a user, wherein the peer profile data identifies one or more peer gaming profiles that are respectively associated with one or more peers, wherein each peer has participated with the user in one or more video game sessions; first generating circuitry configured to generate one or more candidate highlights of a given peer, wherein each candidate highlight comprises image data of one of the one or more video game sessions in which the user and the given peer participated together, wherein at least a part of each candidate highlight comprises image data of an in-game avatar of the given peer; selecting circuitry configured to select a highlight from among the one or more generated candidate highlights; and rendering circuitry configured to render, for display, a list of one or more of the peer gaming profiles, wherein the list comprises the peer gaming profile of the given peer, wherein the

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating haptic feedback to accompany an audio signal, the method comprising: detecting a predetermined audio signal in one or more monitored audio channels (11); and in response to detecting the predetermined audio signal, triggering a haptic feedback signal in a haptic feedback channel (42), wherein the haptic feedback channel is synchronized with the one or more monitored audio channels.

Abstract: A content generation system operable to generate one or more actions to be performed by an agent, the system comprising an input receiving unit operable to receive two or more actions for the agent, a model generation unit operable to input the actions to a machine learning model so as to generate a trained machine learning model, and an action generation unit operable to generate an action to be performed by the agent, wherein the generation comprises the selection of a latent space interpolation state associated with the trained machine learning model.

Abstract: A method for identifying a cutscene in gameplay footage, the method comprising: receiving a first video signal and a second video signal each comprising a plurality of images; creating a first video fingerprint comprising a plurality of signatures, each signature of the plurality of signatures based on at least one image of the plurality of images in the first video signal; creating a second video fingerprint comprising a plurality of signatures, each signature of the plurality of signatures based on at least one image of the plurality of images in the second video signal; comparing the first video fingerprint with the second video fingerprint; and identifying a cutscene when at least a portion of the first video fingerprint has at least a threshold level of similarity with at least a portion of the second video fingerprint.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing contextual game guidance are described herein. An example method includes determining based on contextual information regarding an application an objective of the user; automatically deriving based on the contextual information and the objective contextual guidance to assist the user; generating a user interface having the contextual guidance; and transmitting the user interface to a client device.

Abstract: A method of video editing includes: receiving data identifying a videogame, and data representative of one or more in-game events, analysing one or more aspects of the in-game events to generate at least a first statistical model for identifying statistically significant in-game events, identifying whether a current in-game event is statistically significant based on a generated statistical model and if so, extracting video of the event from a video buffer, and evaluating whether to include the extracted video in a themed highlight reel and if so, including the extracted video in the themed highlight reel.

Abstract: A system for modifying interactions between a user and displayed content, the system comprising an input detection unit operable to detect one or more inputs from a peripheral device operated by a user, an input characterisation unit operable to characterise the detected one or more inputs, and a content modification unit operable to modify one or more aspects of the user’s interaction in dependence upon the characterisation of the detected inputs.

Abstract: A content generation system operable to generate one or more actions to be performed by an agent, the system comprising an input receiving unit operable to receive information defining an input action, the input action being an action associated with the agent, a constraint identifying unit operable to identify one or more constraints associated with the input action, and an action generation unit operable to generate, using a machine learning model, one or more actions in dependence upon the information defining the input action and the identified constraints wherein the one or more actions are variations of the defined action.

Abstract: A content generation system operable to generate one or more actions to be performed by an agent, the system comprising an input receiving unit operable to receive two or more actions for the agent, a model generation unit operable to input the actions to a machine learning model so as to generate a trained machine learning model, and an action generation unit operable to generate an action to be performed by the agent, wherein the generation comprises the selection of a latent space interpolation state associated with the trained machine learning model.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing contextual game guidance are described herein. An example method includes determining based on contextual information regarding an application an objective of the user; automatically deriving based on the contextual information and the objective contextual guidance to assist the user; generating a user interface having the contextual guidance; and transmitting the user interface to a client device.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing contextual game guidance are described herein. An example method includes determining based on contextual information regarding an application an objective of the user; automatically deriving based on the contextual information and the objective contextual guidance to assist the user; generating a user interface having the contextual guidance; and transmitting the user interface to a client device.

Abstract: A video recording method includes recording a sequence of video images output by a videogame, recording a sequence of depth buffer values for a depth buffer used by the videogame, recording a sequence of in-game virtual camera positions used to generate the video images, recording one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions, associating the depth buffer value sequence, the in-game virtual camera position sequence, and an identifier for the videogame, with the video image sequence, and associating the one or more in-game events and their respective in-game positions with the identifier for the videogame.

Abstract: A user analysis method of assisting a current user within the videogame, includes: obtaining an indication that a hint is required for a scenario within the videogame; and if so, providing a hint to the current user relating to successful behaviour in the scenario; where providing a hint comprises: obtaining one or more indicators of behaviour for the scenario within the videogame, a difference detecting step comprising detecting a respective difference between the one or more obtained indicators of behaviour and corresponding data derived from a corpus of measured indicators of behaviour previously generated from a subset of other users detected to have a predetermined level of success in the scenario, and the providing step comprising providing a hint to the current user indicating a change in one or more behaviours that reduces a respective difference in the one or more measured indicators of behaviour between the current user and the subset of other users detected to have a predetermined level of success

Abstract: A method of detecting significant footage for recording from a videogame includes obtaining position information for a target object within a virtual environment of the videogame, obtaining depth buffer information for a current position of a virtual camera used to generate a current image of the virtual environment for display by the videogame, calculating a first distance along a line between the current position of the virtual camera and the obtained position of the target object, detecting whether a depth buffer value along the line corresponds to at least a threshold distance from the virtual camera, the threshold distance being based upon the calculated first distance, and if so, associating the current image with an indicator that the image is significant for the purposes of recording footage from the videogame.

Abstract: A user analysis method for assisting a current user within the videogame includes: measuring one or more indicators of success for a scenario within the videogame as played by the current user, detecting if the one or more measured indicators of success are below an evaluation threshold, and if so then providing a hint to the current user relating to successful behaviour in the scenario, wherein providing a hint has a measuring step including measuring one or more indicators of behaviour for the scenario within the videogame as played by the current user, an evaluating step including evaluating the one or more measured indicators of behaviour with respect to data derived from a corpus of measured indicators of behaviour previously generated for other users for the scenario, a difference detecting step including detecting a respective difference in the one or more measured indicators of behaviour between the current user and a subset of other users detected to have a predetermined level of success in the scena