Abstract: A watermark-based dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technique for presenting different users of content different advertisements based on the user's profile for content viewed on broadcast channels or in multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) channels. A number of solutions issues with watermark-based DAI are presented. Interoperability is addressed by providing a multiplexing technique so that the DAI watermarks do not interfere with other watermarks, such as ATSC 3.0 watermarks. Reliability is addressed by providing a matched filtering technique. Security is addressed by providing a mutual authentication technique.

Abstract: A method for embedding video watermarks. Areas of poor visual quality in a video content having embedded watermarks ar determined. The watermark symbols replace pixels in the video content with pixels in which the luma values are modulated such the luma value for a 0 bit renders as black and the luma value for a 1 bit renders a shade of gray. The luma value for the 1 bit level is reduced in those areas determined to have poor visual quality. Areas of poor visual quality may be determined by analyzing the luma values of pixels of the video content immediately adjacent to and below a particular watermark symbol to derive an adjacent brightness parameter that represents the perceptual brightness of the surrounding video content. The reduction of the luma value may be achieved by setting the 1 bit luma for a particular watermark symbol to be perceptually less bright than the adjacent brightness parameter.

Abstract: A method for embedding video watermarks. Areas of poor visual quality in a video content having embedded watermarks are determined. The watermark symbols replace pixels in the video content with pixels in which the luma values are modulated such the luma value for a 0 bit renders as black and the luma value for a 1 bit renders a shade of gray. The selection of the luma value for bit 1 takes into account the visual impact of watermark embedding. When extracting video watermark symbols from embedded content, predictions are made regarding the expected luma value for bit 1 selected during the embedding in order to calculate the threshold used to discriminate bits 0 and 1.

Abstract: A watermark-based dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technique for presenting different users of content different advertisements based on the user's profile for content viewed on broadcast channels or in multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) channels. A number of solutions issues with watermark-based DAI are presented. Interoperability is addressed by providing a multiplexing technique so that the DAI watermarks do not interfere with other watermarks, such as ATSC 3.0 watermarks. Reliability is addressed by providing a matched filtering technique. Security is addressed by providing a mutual authentication technique.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking the state of a television in an HDMI environment using analysis of the bi-directional HDMI CEC channel. This information may be used to determine if the television has been turned on or off, and also to determine if a streaming media player has been selected for display. In response to a determination that the television has been turned off, or that another input has been selected for display on the television, the stream may be turned off or other actions may be taken. By turning off the stream when it is not being viewed, unnecessary network usage and power consumption is avoided. Another advantage of the disclosed system and method is that advertisers may avoid streaming ads that are not viewable.

Abstract: A watermark-based dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technique for presenting different users of content different advertisements based on the user's profile for content viewed on broadcast channels or in multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) channels. A number of solutions issues with watermark-based DAI are presented. Interoperability is addressed by providing a multiplexing technique so that the DAI watermarks do not interfere with other watermarks, such as ATSC 3.0 watermarks. Reliability is addressed by providing a matched filtering technique. Security is addressed by providing a mutual authentication technique.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a media player for replacement content, such as dynamic ad insertion. The system tracks video watermarks from a content stream, where the input content timeline is being modified by a user exercising the transport controls of a digital video recorder (DVR). A Detector Engine receives decoded video frames and extracts a time-offset field, a VP1 payload, and a Cyclic Redundance Check (CRC) field in each video frame. A Content Timeline Tracker monitors and analyzes the output of the Detector Engine to produce a piecewise linear approximation of the content timeline, wherein playback rate changes by a user in an upstream device can be tracked. This enables the playback of auxiliary content which is synchronized to a watermark timeline recovered from the received content in cases where the recovered timeline has a non-linear mapping to real time.

Abstract: A method for embedding video watermarks. Areas of poor visual quality in a video content having embedded watermarks ar determined. The watermark symbols replace pixels in the video content with pixels in which the luma values are modulated such the luma value for a 0 bit renders as black and the luma value for a 1 bit renders a shade of gray. The luma value for the 1 bit level is reduced in those areas determined to have poor visual quality. Areas of poor visual quality may be determined by analyzing the luma values of pixels of the video content immediately adjacent to and below a particular watermark symbol to derive an adjacent brightness parameter that represents the perceptual brightness of the surrounding video content. The reduction of the luma value may be achieved by setting the 1 bit luma for a particular watermark symbol to be perceptually less bright than the adjacent brightness parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a media player for replacement content, such as dynamic ad insertion. The system tracks video watermarks from a content stream, where the input content timeline is being modified by a user exercising the transport controls of a digital video recorder (DVR). A Detector Engine receives decoded video frames and extracts a time-offset field, a VP1 payload, and a Cyclic Redundance Check (CRC) field in each video frame. A Content Timeline Tracker monitors and analyzes the output of the Detector Engine to produce a piecewise linear approximation of the content timeline, wherein playback rate changes by a user in an upstream device can be tracked. This enables the playback of auxiliary content which is synchronized to a watermark timeline recovered from the received content in cases where the recovered timeline has a non-linear mapping to real time.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a media player for replacement content, such as dynamic ad insertion. The system tracks video watermarks from a content stream, where the input content timeline is being modified by a user exercising the transport controls of a digital video recorder (DVR). A Detector Engine receives decoded video frames and extracts a time-offset field, a VP1 payload, and a Cyclic Redundance Check (CRC) field in each video frame. A Content Timeline Tracker monitors and analyzes the output of the Detector Engine to produce a piecewise linear approximation of the content timeline, wherein playback rate changes by a user in an upstream device can be tracked. This enables the playback of auxiliary content which is synchronized to a watermark timeline recovered from the received content in cases where the recovered timeline has a non-linear mapping to real time.

Abstract: A watermark-based dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technique for presenting different users of content different advertisements based on the user's profile for content viewed on broadcast channels or in multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) channels. A number of solutions issues with watermark-based DAI are presented. Interoperability is addressed by providing a multiplexing technique so that the DAI watermarks do not interfere with other watermarks, such as ATSC 3.0 watermarks. Reliability is addressed by providing a matched filtering technique. Security is addressed by providing a mutual authentication technique.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of segments of the content within a content timeline are extracted. While the content is still being presented, a feedback received from the user is associated with the content using the timing information and transmitted to a database. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems and computer program products facilitate modifying interactive television applications in systems where metadata is carried by watermarks. The embodiments address situations where a user attempts interaction with an intermediate device while the television is executing an application which is replacing the video and/or audio from the original content stream. In particular, a process runs on the television which analyzes the audio and/or video and detects when user interaction is occurring upstream of the television. In response to the detection, the interactive television application may be terminated or the content may be modified so that the upstream activity will not be affected by the interactive television application.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems and computer program products improve the detection of watermarks that are embedded in a host content by providing information indicative of a ranking of watermark payloads to watermark extractors. A watermark extractor device obtains information indicative of a ranking of a plurality of watermark payload values, where such information designates each watermark payload value within a first subset of the plurality of watermark payload values as having an associated rank value. Based at least in-part on the information indicative of the ranking, the watermark extractor device is configured to prioritize resource allocation for extraction of payload values that are designated as belonging to the first subset over payload values that are not designated as belonging to the first subset. The watermark extractor then extracts a payload value, designated as belonging to the first subset, from one or more watermarks embedded in the host content.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems and computer program products improve the detection of watermarks that are embedded in a host content by providing information indicative of a ranking of watermark payloads to watermark extractors. A watermark extractor device obtains information indicative of a ranking of a plurality of watermark payload values, where such information designates each watermark payload value within a first subset of the plurality of watermark payload values as having an associated rank value. Based at least in-part on the information indicative of the ranking, the watermark extractor device is configured to prioritize resource allocation for extraction of payload values that are designated as belonging to the first subset over payload values that are not designated as belonging to the first subset. The watermark extractor then extracts a payload value, designated as belonging to the first subset, from one or more watermarks embedded in the host content.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems and computer programs facilitate presentation of a second content in synchronization with a first content. In one method, at least a portion of a first content that is being presented by a first device is received at a second device. The first content includes substantially imperceptible watermarks that are embedded in one or more components of the first content. A first watermark detection result is obtained by performing a watermark detection operation. Additionally, a second watermark detection result associated with the first content is received at the second device from a device other than the second device. The first watermark detection result and the second watermark detection result are augmented to obtain a combined watermark detection result, and the combined detection result is used to enable presentation of a second content in synchronization with the first content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of segments of the content within a content timeline are extracted. While the content is still being presented, a feedback received from the user is associated with the content using the timing information and transmitted to a database. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of content segments are extracted and transmitted to a database along with a user's evaluation feedback of the multimedia content. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of content segments are extracted and transmitted to a database along with a user's evaluation feedback of the multimedia content. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.