Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing the placement of previously selected breaks in a media item is provided herein. Embodiments of the method include steps of identifying a break in a media item, the break being associated with a first break point at a first time during playback of the media item. The method may also include steps of dynamically adjusting the placement of the breaks within the media item based on the performance of the media item.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying of thumbnails of content to be played after viewing of a video advertisement. A method includes generating a thumbnail associated with video content, the video content to be provided for playback after playback of a video advertisement, and presenting the thumbnail during the playback of the video advertisement to inform a user of the video content, wherein a skip counter indicative of time left until skipping of the video advertisement is enabled is provided, and wherein the time left is less than a remaining playing time of the video advertisement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing the placement of previously selected breaks in a media item is provided herein. Embodiments of the method include steps of identifying a break in a media item, the break being associated with a first break point at a first time during playback of the media item. The method may also include steps of dynamically adjusting the placement of the breaks within the media item based on the performance of the media item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing the placement of previously selected breaks in a media item is provided herein. Embodiments of the method include steps of identifying a break in a media item, the break being associated with a first break point at a first time during playback of the media item. The method may also include steps of dynamically adjusting the placement of the breaks within the media item based on the performance of the media item.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying of thumbnails of content to be played after viewing of a video advertisement. A method includes generating a thumbnail associated with video content, the video content to be provided for playback after playback of a video advertisement, and presenting the thumbnail during the playback of the video advertisement to inform a user of the video content, wherein a skip counter indicative of time left until skipping of the video advertisement is enabled is provided, and wherein the time left is less than a remaining playing time of the video advertisement.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying of thumbnails of content to be played after viewing of a video advertisement. A method includes generating a thumbnail associated with video content, the video content to be provided for playback after playback of a video advertisement, and presenting the thumbnail during the playback of the video advertisement to inform a user of the video content, wherein a skip counter indicative of time left until skipping of the video advertisement is enabled is provided, and wherein the time left is less than a remaining playing time of the video advertisement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing the placement of previously selected breaks in a media item is provided herein. Embodiments of the method include steps of identifying a break in a media item, the break being associated with a first break point at a first time during playback of the media item. The method may also include steps of dynamically adjusting the placement of the breaks within the media item based on the performance of the media item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing the placement of previously selected breaks in a media item is provided herein. Embodiments of the method include steps of identifying a break in a media item, the break being associated with a first break point at a first time during playback of the media item. The method may also include steps of dynamically adjusting the placement of the breaks within the media item based on the performance of the media item.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include receiving geographic coordinates of a location at which two parties are to rendezvous, generating a human-understandable geospatial descriptor for the request location, and sending the descriptor to respective devices of the two parties for presentation to the two parties. Generating the human-understandable geospatial descriptor may include identifying a human-visible feature in the vicinity of the request location that is labeled within available map data, selecting, based on a descriptor generation model, a reference expression relative to the identified feature, and applying a grammar-based constructor to the label and the selected reference expression to form the human-understandable geospatial descriptor. The model may be tuned using machine learning. The two parties may include a ride requestor and a ride provider in a ridesharing service. The identified feature may be a point of interest, landmark, street name, intersection, marker, or structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying transitions within media content items. In one implementation, a processing device process a first media content item, the first media content item being associated with a transition, to identify one or more characteristics associated with the transition. The processing device processes a second media content item to identify at least one of the one or more characteristics at a chronological interval of the second media content item. The processing device receives a sponsored content item. The processing device provides, during a presentation of the second media content item, the sponsored content item at the chronological interval.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying transitions within media content items. In one implementation, a processing device process a first media content item, the first media content item being associated with a transition, to identify one or more characteristics associated with the transition. The processing device processes a second media content item to identify at least one of the one or more characteristics at a chronological interval of the second media content item. The processing device receives a sponsored content item. The processing device provides, during a presentation of the second media content item, the sponsored content item at the chronological interval.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for pre-fetching online content items is provided. The method uses a first computing device including a processor in communication with an output device and a memory. The method includes displaying an online publication to a user using the output device. The method also includes identifying a break point associated with the online publication. The method further includes determining, by the processor, a pre-fetch point prior to the break point. The method also includes initiating transmission of a content item into the memory at the pre-fetch point.

Abstract: A user interface may be provided. A display of one or more levels of control for controlling video playback in the user interface may be provided in response to a first input from a directional controller along a first axis of the directional controller. Each level of control may include at least one control option that is different from control options at another level of control. A focus within a current level of control of the one or more levels of control may be set. The focus may be moved to another control option within the current level of control in response to a second input from the directional controller along a second axis of the directional controller.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying of thumbnails of content to be played after viewing of a video advertisement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for pre-fetching online content items is provided. The method uses a first computing device including a processor in communication with an output device and a memory. The method includes displaying an online publication to a user using the output device. The method also includes identifying a break point associated with the online publication. The method further includes determining, by the processor, a pre-fetch point prior to the break point. The method also includes initiating transmission of a content item into the memory at the pre-fetch point.

Abstract: A user interface may be provided. A display of one or more levels of control for controlling video playback in the user interface may be provided in response to a first input from a directional controller along a first axis of the directional controller. Each level of control may include at least one control option that is different from control options at another level of control. A focus within a current level of control of the one or more levels of control may be set. The focus may be moved to another control option within the current level of control in response to a second input from the directional controller along a second axis of the directional controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for monitoring user interest in a video as it is being played and autonomously selecting a section of the video for replaying based on an identified user interest in the section. A monitoring component monitors user interaction with a video being streamed to one or more devices as the video is played at the one or more devices. An identification component further determines level of user interest based on the monitored user interaction and identifies a section of the video associated with the level of user interest in response to the level of user interest being above a predetermined threshold. Then a replay component streams the section of the video to the one or more devices again at least in response to the identification of the section.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for monitoring user interest in a video as it is being played and autonomously selecting a section of the video for replaying based on an identified user interest in the section. A monitoring component monitors user interaction with a video being streamed to one or more devices as the video is played at the one or more devices. An identification component further determines level of user interest based on the monitored user interaction and identifies a section of the video associated with the level of user interest in response to the level of user interest being above a predetermined threshold. Then a replay component streams the section of the video to the one or more devices again at least in response to the identification of the section.

Abstract: A computing device provides a display of a plurality of channel previews for a plurality of channels in a channel control area in a user interface, the display distinguishing a first channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a first channel of the plurality of channels. The computing device further provides a display of a first set of video previews for a first set of videos in a video control area in the user interface, wherein the first set of video previews is associated with the first channel preview. Responsive to the computing device receiving an input identifying a second channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a second channel of the plurality of channels, the computing device replaces the first set of video previews in the video control area with a second set of video previews associated with the second channel preview.

Abstract: A computing device provides a display of a plurality of channel previews for a plurality of channels in a channel control area in a user interface, the display distinguishing a first channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a first channel of the plurality of channels. The computing device further provides a display of a first set of video previews for a first set of videos in a video control area in the user interface, wherein the first set of video previews is associated with the first channel preview. Responsive to the computing device receiving an input identifying a second channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a second channel of the plurality of channels, the computing device replaces the first set of video previews in the video control area with a second set of video previews associated with the second channel preview.