Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for determining personalized timing for generating for display advertisements to users. Rather than an expert determining time segments of a media asset most suitable for presenting advertisements to users, the most suitable time segments in a media asset for presenting advertisements to users may be customized based on a user's profile information and/or the user's level of engagement in a media asset. The media guidance application may parse a media asset into multiple time segments and determine one or more time segments associated with metadata that matches content characteristics preferred by the user. One or more advertisements may be presented to the user in these time segments determined by the media guidance application instead of the time segments determined by the expert.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for handing off media content. A media player client receives a request to transfer a media stream, which is playing on a first media device, to a second media device. In response to determining that the second media device comprises a larger screen than the first media device, the media player content determines, based on the genre and resolution of the media stream data, whether the media stream data can be transferred, from the first media device to the second media device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to detect a location to place an advertisement in a media asset, the method comprising, identifying a plurality of points in a video frame of a media asset, detecting a color associated with each point of the plurality of points, calculating a change in color between each point of the plurality of points, comparing the change in color between each point of the plurality of points with a threshold, identifying, based on the comparing, an area within the frame that constitutes a surface; and selecting an advertisement to be placed on the surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for minimizing obstruction of a media asset by an overlay by predicting a path of movement of an object of interest of the media asset and avoiding placement of the overlay in the path of movement. To this end, a media guidance application may detect an object of interest in a first frame of a media asset, and may determine a determining a first location of the object in the first frame and a second location of the object of interest in a second frame. The media guidance application may calculate, based on the first location and the second location, a projected location of the object of interest in a third frame of the media asset, and may generate for display an overlay in a location that does not overlap with any of the first location, the second location, and the projected location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide one or more content summaries for one or more media assets, wherein it is determined that consumption associated with a profile of a media asset will begin at a first time and at a second time that is a period of time prior to the first time, it is caused to be provided one or more content summaries for the one or more media assets, wherein the one or more content summaries are selected based at least on a duration of the content summary, such that a duration of the content summary is not greater than the period of time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a size of a buffer based on a probability that a rewind request will be received during a currently playing segment of media. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is likely, the system will increase the size of a buffer such that the rewind request can be accommodated using data from the buffer. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is unlikely, the system will decrease the size of the buffer to free resources for other system components.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining periods of excessive noise for smart speaker voice commands. An electronic timeline of volume levels of currently playing content is made available to a smart speaker. From this timeline, periods of high content volume are determined, and the smart speaker alerts users during periods of high volume, requesting that they wait until the high-volume period has passed before issuing voice commands. In this manner, the smart speaker helps prevent voice commands that may not be detected, or may be detected inaccurately, due to the noise of the content currently being played.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide an interactive media guidance application having a locked mode for viewing media assets. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may provide media assets suited to a certain audience. The interactive media guidance application may determine suitable media assets for the locked mode based on media assets viewed by other users having characteristics similar to the user of the interactive media guidance application. In the locked mode, the interactive media guidance application may allow access to only certain media assets and/or limit the time period for which the media assets are presented.

Abstract: A computer implemented method that includes receiving first user usage data and second user usage data indicative of user usage during consumption of a first content and of a second content, respectively. The method includes determining a first user usage pattern for the first content and a second user usage pattern for the second content based on the first user usage data and on the second user usage data, respectively. The method determines potential content overlap between the first content and the second content based on a comparison of the first usage pattern and the second usage pattern and performs an optimization operation based on the potential content overlap.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for streaming during unavailability of a content server. Upon determining that there are conditions indicating buffering issues during delivery of a media asset, a server determines a first group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset from the server and sharing the media asset on a peer-to-peer network. Then, the server determines a second group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset on a peer-to-peer network from a first group device. The server then determines groupings within which to share and receive the media asset. Next, the server transmits instructions to the devices in the first group to maintain in buffer and share certain portions of the media asset with the second group devices within their grouping. Finally, the server updates information detailing the media asset portions the devices are maintaining in buffer and sharing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for selectively preventing display of brand and business identifiers in content that is considered offensive, objectionable, disturbing, and/or unsettling, to prevent an unintended association by viewers of the content between the content and the brand or business. A request to display media content, comprising at least one frame with objectionable subject matter, is received. In response to determining the at least one frame comprises objectionable subject matter, a determination is made as to whether an entity identifier is visible in the at least one frame. In response to determining at least one entity identifier is visible in the at least one frame, a first context of the objectionable subject matter and a second context of the entity identifier are determined. The first context is compared to the second context and, based on the comparing, a masking action is determined to be required for the entity identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a corrupted segment in a media asset. The media guidance application determines that a segment of a media asset is corrupted. The media guidance application determines whether a retrieval period to retrieve an uncorrupted copy of the segment exceeds a threshold period. If the retrieval period does not exceed the threshold period, the media guidance application retrieves and generates for display the uncorrupted copy of the segment. If the retrieval period exceeds the threshold period, the media guidance application determines whether an importance level of the corrupted segment exceeds a threshold level. If the importance level exceeds the threshold level, the media guidance application generates for display a summary for the corrupted segment. If the importance level does not exceed the threshold level, the media guidance application generates for display the subsequent segment and the summary for the corrupted segment in an overlay.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that provides advanced parental control features such as allowing parents to establish parental controls in a dynamic and individualized manner and allowing parents to track and/or limit the amount of time that a child views media content of a particular type.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for retrieving an information file from a user profile about a scheduled trip, where access to content may be restricted and identifying, based on the consumption pattern, a first progression point before the scheduled start time and a second progression point after the scheduled end time of the scheduled trip. Based on the difference between the first and second progression points, the media guidance application causes to be stored the respective media assets on a consumption device. Then before departing for the scheduled trip, the media guidance application confirms the first progression points against the current progression point and causes to adjust the stored media assets based on a difference between the current progression point and the first progression point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing user experience in accessing media of a certain content type by outputting the media on a nearby device that is better suited for access. For example, a media guidance application may determine that a user is accessing, on his/her smartphone, a digital page (e.g., a website, a newsfeed, etc.) that features embedded content (e.g., photos, movies, music, etc.). In response to determining that the user has navigated to an embedded content, such as a video clip, the media guidance application may determine a device in the vicinity of the user that is better suited than the user's smartphone for playback of the video clip. For example, a nearby smart television may have a larger screen, better sound output, and a better display resolution than the smartphone. As a result, the media guidance application may cause the smart television to output the video clip.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a customized media asset to incentivize a first user to subscribe to a subscription service. A first user provides their subscription access information to a media provider. In response to receiving the subscription access information, the media provider determines whether the subscription access information is from an account subscribed for a trial period. If the account is subscribed for the trial period, the media provider presents a plurality of media assets for selection to the first user, receives a selection of a media asset available from the subscription service, generates a customized media asset based on a media asset consumption profile of the first user, wherein the customized media asset includes a segment from an additional media asset different from the selected media asset, and presents to the first user the customized media asset instead of the selected media asset.

Abstract: A method of modifying playing of media content in a group watch session comprises receiving a command to modify play; determining respective preferences of respective users in the session; and, if it is determined that execution of the command is consistent with the preferences, causing modifying of the playing of at least a portion of the media content based on the received command, e.g., by skipping the portion, jumping to another play position, or rewinding or fast-forwarding through the portion. In this manner, the command is executed, or not executed, based on the preferences of multiple users. The method may include estimating a satisfaction score for the command for the respective users, and comparing the estimated satisfaction scores with a reference score. The portion(s) of the media content for which play is modified may be determined based on the estimated satisfaction scores.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying personalized preview images during trick-play operations of a media asset based on user profile data and an importance of frames of the media asset. A request from a user to move a slider of a progress bar associated with a media asset is received while the media asset is being generated for display. A scene from the media asset that contains a play position indicated by the slider is identified and a frame that best matches user profile data of the user and importance data for the scene is identified. The identified frame is generated for display as an overlay over the displayed media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving audio playback at a playback device are described herein. In some embodiments, a system transitions between causing playback of a radio broadcast stream to causing playback of device music, such as in response to determining that a quality of the radio broadcast stream is below a threshold value. In some embodiments, a system selects songs to play based on device preferences of a plurality of different media devices. In some embodiments, a system selects a device from which to retrieve songs for playback based on one or more rules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving audio playback at a playback device are described herein. In some embodiments, a system transitions between causing playback of a radio broadcast stream to causing playback of device music, such as in response to determining that a quality of the radio broadcast stream is below a threshold value. In some embodiments, a system selects songs to play based on device preferences of a plurality of different media devices. In some embodiments, a system selects a device from which to retrieve songs for playback based on one or more rules.