Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing object-oriented infrastructure-as-code platform (“OOIACP”) and its functionalities. In various embodiments, an OOIACP may receive a request to perform a function from a requesting device. The OOIACP includes a declarative configuration language (“DCL”)-based infrastructure-as-code (“IAC”) software tool that provides structure and data functionalities and a wrapper tool that provides algorithm and sequence functionalities to the IAC software tool to convert the IAC software tool into an object-oriented programming (“OOP”)-based IAC system. The OOIACP uses a run command to perform the requested function, by identifying classes within a class hierarchy associated with the requested function, and initiating a set of procedures in each identified class. Each class and subclass within the class hierarchy has one or more predefined class behaviors, and each subclass inherits class behaviors of classes to which it belongs and of any intermediate subclasses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for motion-enabled transactions are disclosed. The system may allow users to complete transactions with merchants via an air sign input. The system may receive a motion-enabled transaction request comprising an air sign input. The system may determine a stored air sign symbol based on the air sign input. The system may retrieve a merchant identifier, a transaction type, and a transaction cost based on the determined stored air sign symbol. The system may transmit a transaction confirmation comprising the merchant identifier, the transaction type, and the transaction cost. In response to the user confirming the transaction confirmation, the system may authorize and process the transaction.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to adaptive recommendations for user-generated mediasets. A mediaset component provides for users to generate mediasets. A user-generated mediaset can include a user-generated playlist or a user-generated media channel. A monitoring component monitors consumption of media, e.g., by a consumer. A relatedness component determines a set of the user-generated mediasets that are related to the media consumed by the consumer. A recommendation component recommends a subset of the user-generated mediasets based on a set of criteria. A rights management component determines a set of authorizations of the consumer for respective media content associated with the set of user-generated mediasets, and takes at least one action based on the set of authorizations, e.g., updating one of the mediasets based on the set of authorizations.

Abstract: As a user interacts with a voice application, a history of the prompts played to the user and the users responses are displayed to the user. The displayed prompts and displayed responses could be summaries of the prompts and responses, or they could be full transcriptions of the prompts and responses. A user may be able to select a prompt or response in the history to return to a certain point in the voice application. It may be possible for a user to save a history of the interactions that occurred when a voice application was performed, and to recall the history to continue on from a selected location in the history.

Abstract: The present application discloses an improved transportation matching system, and corresponding methods and computer-readable media. According to the disclosed embodiments, the transportation matching system utilizes an image-based transportation request interface and environmental digital image stream to efficiently generate transportation requests with accurate pickup locations. For instance, the disclosed system can utilize one or more environmental digital images provided from a requestor computing device (e.g., a mobile device or an augmented reality wearable device) to determine information such as the location of the requestor computing device and a transportation pickup location within the environmental digital images. Furthermore, the disclosed system can provide, for display on the requestor computing device, one or more augmented reality elements at the transportation pickup location within an environmental scene that includes the transportation pickup location.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to analyze historic data generated by an optimization system to provide recommended weightings for placement of creatives on publisher's pages. The weightings may be generated by providing forecasting the likelihood that a particular creative will lead to greater conversion or revenue compared to other creatives. The creatives may be grouped into one or more phases based on the amount of statistical data available for analyzing the particular creatives such that new creatives are given sufficient weighting to receive impressions despite the lack of historical data for a creative. Performance of placed creatives may be tracked by the passing of URLs with information attached to identify the particular creative and placement.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a plurality of buffers and a file recording processing unit. Different pieces of buffer data (BD) are accumulated in the plurality of buffers. The file recording processing unit secures two or more consecutive allocation units (AU) included in a recording medium as a ring buffer. The file recording processing unit extracts a plurality of pieces of buffer data (BD) each accumulated in one of the plurality of buffers at regular time intervals and records the plurality of pieces of buffer data (BD) in the ring buffer as a salvage file (SF) for data recovery.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice services instruction rendering agent and at least one voice services software client that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice services rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice services software client may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice services instruction rendering agent and the management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice services instruction rendering agent and at least one voice services software client that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice services rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice services software client may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice services instruction rendering agent and the management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A method for generating a seed for a shuffle algorithm, the method performed by a plurality of computing devices and comprising, at each computing device in the plurality, generating a respective plurality of seeds for a shuffle algorithm, determining a fitness score for each of the generated seeds, and identifying a seed among the generated seeds having the best fitness score, wherein the number of generated seeds is determined based on a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a message to a user makes use of a voice applications agent that is located, at least in part, on the user's local device, the voice applications agent being configured to perform a voice application in order to deliver the message to the user. The voice application comprises a set of instructions about how to interact with the user. Performing the voice application on the user's local device comprises the voice applications agent following the set of instructions that comprise the voice application in order to interact with the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for motion-enabled transactions are disclosed. The system may allow users to complete transactions with merchants via an air sign input. The system may receive a motion-enabled transaction request comprising an air sign input. The system may determine a stored air sign symbol based on the air sign input. The system may retrieve a merchant identifier, a transaction type, and a transaction cost based on the determined stored air sign symbol. The system may transmit a transaction confirmation comprising the merchant identifier, the transaction type, and the transaction cost. In response to the user confirming the transaction confirmation, the system may authorize and process the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for causing a voice application to be performed on one or more user local devices utilizes a distributed voice application execution system architecture. The distributed voice application execution system architecture allows a voice applications agent on a user's local device to obtain a rendered voice application from a remote voice application rendering agent. The voice applications agent on the user's local device can then perform the voice application for the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable record medium for providing an animation function using a sprite joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image. An animated image providing method includes creating, by processing circuitry, a sprite joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image from a video in an animated format, and providing, by the processing circuitry, an animated thumbnail of the video based on the sprite JPEG image.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating an augmented scene graph of an image and for training an explainable knowledge based (KB) visual question answering (VQA) machine learning (ML) model are provided. A scene graph encoding spatial and semantic features of objects and relations between objects in the image is obtained. An augmented scene graph is generated by embedding a knowledge graph to enhance the scene graph. An embedded set of questions and associated answers related to the image are obtained. The KB VQA ML model is trained to provide an answer to a given question related to the image based on the augmented scene graph and the embedded set of questions and associated answers. The KB VQA ML model is trained to retrieve a subgraph linking the question and the associated answer as a potential explanation for the answer.

Abstract: Indications of sample machine learning models which create synthetic content items are provided via programmatic interfaces. A representation of a synthetic content item produced by one of the sample models in response to input obtained from a client of a provider network is presented. In response to a request from the client, a machine learning model is trained to produce additional synthetic content items.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enabling a portable media player to obtain media content from secondary systems, such as other portable media players, via local wireless communication. In general, the portable media player stores proxy information identifying the media content of a number of media files in the user's media collection rather than the media files themselves. When a secondary system is within a local wireless coverage area of the portable media player, the proxy information for the media files, or a subset thereof, is provided to the secondary system. In response, the secondary system identifies media files stored by the secondary system having media content matching the media content identified by the proxy information. The secondary system then provides a notification of the identified media files to the portable media player, which may then obtain the identified media files from the secondary system.

Abstract: Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive information related to a media object, and automatically select at least one supplemental media object based at least in part on a competency of a user related to the media object is disclosed.

Abstract: A voice tagging system includes a client computing device that includes a media object capture device and a voice capture device and runs a client application that associates media objects to voice samples. The system also includes a communications network coupled to the client computing device, a voice tagging system coupled to the communications network and receiving at least one association between a first media object and a first voice sample, and a database coupled to the voice tagging system, the database including one or more voice tags, each voice tag being coupled to one or more voice samples.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for generating media recommendations in a media recommendation network. Aspects of the method and system include receiving by a server a plurality of play histories of media items from a plurality of users of devices, wherein at least a portion of the media items are tagged with corresponding time and location data indicating a time and location of play; receiving by the server a media recommendation request from a requester, including receiving seed information indicating a current location of the requester; using at least one of user preferences of the requester and the seed information to identify correlated users from which to search corresponding play histories from among the plurality of play histories; comparing the seed information to the corresponding play histories and generating a list of related media items contained therein; and returning the list of related media items to the requester.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for intelligently, or programmatically, assigning weights for one or more criterion utilized to score media content items based on an analysis of a group of media content items. In general, scoring criteria to be used to score media content items for a user are defined. A group of media content items associated with the user is then analyzed with respect to the criteria to provide results such as a number or percentage of media content items from the group of media content items that satisfy each of the scoring criteria. Based on the results of the analysis, a weight is assigned to each of the scoring criteria. Thereafter, media content items are scored for the user as a function of the weights assigned to the scoring criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television comprises a personal channel manager that may include a configuration module, a search module, and a content packaging module. A system user may utilize the configuration module to perform a personal channel configuration procedure to specify personal channel configuration data for performing a content record search procedure. The search module may manage the content record search procedure according to one or more search parameters that may be defined during the personal channel configuration procedure. The search module finds content records from content databases during the foregoing content record search procedure. The content packaging module coordinates a content record sorting procedure according to user-specified sorting criteria.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer programs are presented for updating song playlists based on received rating inputs from user devices. One method includes receiving information associated with songs in an initial playlist from a host device by a server. The server generates a rating interface for the initial playlist, which is associated with an image code. The image code for the rating interface is sent to the host device so that the user devices can access the rating interface via the image code. After one or more user devices provides rating inputs to the songs in the initial playlist, the received one or more rating inputs are analyzed to produce an adjusted playlist. The method further includes transmitting the adjusted playlist to the host device to be executed.

Abstract: A single playlist can be generated that includes both songs and music videos. Additionally, a song on a playlist can be identified and a check made as to whether a music video corresponding to the identified song is available. If a music video corresponding to the identified song is not available, then the identified song is played back. However, if a music video corresponding to the identified song is available, then the music video is played back instead of the identified song.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting data may include a data collection device to obtain the data from a user, an apparatus for obtaining metadata for each word of the data from the user, an apparatus for obtaining a searchable transcript of the data and a device to store the searchable transcript. The metadata may be date data, time data, name data or location data and the data collection device may include a speech recognition engine to translate speech into searchable words. The speech recognition engine may provide a confidence level corresponding to the translation of the speech into searchable words.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that performs processing for editing information on contents includes: an acquisition means for acquiring attribute data classification information in which a plurality of attribute data indicating predetermined attributes of contents is correlated with category data indicating categories for classifying the plurality of attributes; a selection means for selecting predetermined attribute data from the attribute data included in the attribute data classification information acquired by the acquisition means; and a correlation means for newly correlating the attribute data selected by the selection means with category data other than the category data, which is correlated in the attribute data classification information acquired by the acquisition means, in response to a user's instruction.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example network device having a controller to receive multiple streams of content for portions of a multimedia work, perform a high level analysis for features in each of the streams for the multimedia work, perform a specialized analysis on the portion having a detected general feature to generate a content analysis output, correlate the content analysis output with other content analysis of the multimedia work, and output a weighted content description based on the correlation function. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A Multi-Shot Scheduling System chooses from multiple candidate playlists of positions to select a broadcast playlist. Candidate playlists are generated based upon scoring and selecting content items for the positions through the use of index values. Various embodiments of the Multi-Shot Scheduling System can select broadcast playlists for multiple groups of content and can provide different methods of controlling scheduling performance by restricting the range of candidate playlists from which the best playlist can be selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multimedia data decoding method and apparatus. The decoding method includes receiving multimedia data including a data area including a plurality of media data areas each corresponding to a plurality of media data; and a media information area including a plurality of track areas each corresponding to the plurality of media data areas; reading the media information area; extracting timing information for sequentially reproducing the media data comprised in the media data area, from the track area; and reproducing the media data, using the media data of the data area and the extracted timing information. According to the present invention, the multimedia data decoding method and apparatus has an effect of being capable of constructing a slide show by only a small amount of multimedia data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can reduce.

Abstract: A media data tagging method. The media data includes one or a combination of audio, video and textual data. The method includes surveying at least a portion of media data received by a device, the media data having metadata associated therewith. The surveying process is preferably performed during playback of the media data. The method further includes detecting generation of a tagging instruction. The tagging instruction can be generated via a user interface. A tag data indicative of the media data is then generated in response to the generation of the tagging instruction. The tag data is then transmitted to the device. The tag data is for subsequent at least one of identification and location of the media data.

Abstract: Context data can be used to determine the current context and/or to predict the future context of a user. When the disclosed technology knows of the user's likely context, it can prepare for object recognition (e.g., image recognition, speech recognition, etc.) by (downloading and) locally storing (i.e., holding) object data related to the context. This allows for the object recognition to be performed locally and for any additional information about the object to be provided without communication over a network, thereby reducing resources such as time, cost, and processing power. If, however, the object data related to the context is not available locally, such object data can still be downloaded from a server/cloud. In some embodiments, if a likely future context is predicted and the object data related to that future context is not available locally, the object data can be downloaded from a server/cloud prior to the future context.

Abstract: A segmentation description scheme for video material that includes references to segments of video contained in different programs. The segmentation description scheme may also interact with a presentation device to present the referenced segments to a user contiguously, without first storing the segments respectively referenced from the different programs.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for generating composite mediasets from mediasets, each comprising media items, associated with a plurality of users. In some embodiments, individual and/or group recommendations are provided for creating a group playlist by aggregating user taste data for a plurality of users in a group. In other embodiments, systems and methods are provided which allow for sharing and playing of a group playlist by users in a group, each of which has a media playback device. Each media item, such as a song, is played from one of the individual user devices for the benefit of all users in the vicinity at the time. Music thus can be “shared” without transferring files potentially in violation of copyrights.

Abstract: Presenting one or more suggested search-engine queries based on an initial search-engine query is described herein. Once the initial query is received, a search engine determines whether any web content is relevant thereto. If not, a query-suggestion service determines whether any suggested queries can be substituted for the initial query. If not, the query is spell-corrected, if necessary, and parsed into individual terms. Each parsed term is then checked to see whether it can be associated with alternative search terms. Terms than can are combined and their combination is also checked for alternative search terms. All of the alternative search terms are scored and then assembled into a list of suggested search terms that is presented to the user.

Abstract: A system, method and various software tools enable a video hosting website to automatically identified unlicensed audio content in video files uploaded by users, and initiate a process by which the user can replace the unlicensed content with licensed audio content. An audio replacement tool is provided that enables the user to permanently mute the original, unlicensed audio content of a video file, or select a licensed audio file from a collection of licensed audio, and insert the selected in place of the original audio. Where a video file includes unlicensed audio, the video hosting website provides access to video files to a client device, along with an indication to the client device to mute the audio during playback of the video.

Abstract: An information processing system and method for gathering and interpreting information includes capturing information from at least one of a plurality of information streams/sensors wherein the information includes video, audio, seismic, radio frequency (RF), and/or text then applying a standardized tag to an event at a predetermined time or over a predetermined period of time and storing the standardized tag in a repository which can be interrogated rapidly for situation/scene understanding. The information processing system and method include providing a plurality of segmentation algorithms, determining the type of information to be processed and selecting one or more of the segmentation algorithms to process the information based upon the type of information to be processed.

Abstract: A multimedia device and a method embodied in the multimedia device for providing access to media content from a plurality of media content are provided. The multimedia device includes a user interface (UI) with one or more UI controls, a processor, and an output device. The UI controls receive a first set of parameter values from the user, in order to select media content. The processor creates a first list of media content based on a first probabilistic distribution over the plurality of media content. The output device provides access to the media content of the first list of media content to the user. Further, the UI may receive a second set of parameter values, and a second list of media content is then created, based on a second probabilistic distribution. The output device provides access to the media content of the second list of media content to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for seamlessly switching media playback between a media broadcast, such as a radio broadcast, and media from a local media library. When an electronic device determines that an upcoming media item in a media broadcast is not of interest to a user, the electronic device can switch playback from the media stream to a media item from the electronic device local library. The selected local media item can be related to a previously broadcast media item to ensure continuity in the user's listening or viewing experience. The electronic device can switch away from the local media item and return to the media stream when the media stream again broadcasts media items or segments of interest to the user.

Abstract: A processing unit retrieves a content name of a first content data stored in an internal storage medium, in response to a transmission of a retrieval key, and a content name of a second content data stored in an external storage medium, in response to a transmission of the retrieval key. A network interface receives a content name of a third content data and content identification information of a third content data over a network, in response to a transmission of the retrieval key over the network. The network interface receives a content name of a fourth content data over the network in response to a transmission of the retrieval key and the content identification information of the third content data over the network. The processing unit generates a content presentation image including the content names of the first, second, third, and fourth content data.

Abstract: A music search apparatus using an emotion model includes a music database (DB) for storing sound source data about a plurality of pieces of music and Arousal-Valence (AV) coefficients of the respective pieces of music. An emotion model generation unit classifies different emotion types into a plurality of groups, and generates an emotion classification model from using respective probability distributions of the plurality of groups for an AV coefficient plane. A music search unit identifies an emotion type from using information entered by a user when a music search request is received, detects an AV coefficient range for designating an AV coefficient corresponding to the identified emotion type from using the emotion classification model, and searches the music DB for music corresponding to the AV coefficient range.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires and transmits content identification information stored in the storage unit to the other apparatus, determines whether the information processing apparatus has received the content analysis results from the other apparatus and if it is determined that the content analysis result acquisition unit has received the content analysis results from the other apparatus, causes the storage unit to store the content analysis results and if it is determined that the information processing apparatus has not received the content analysis results from the other apparatus, perform processing to obtain content analysis results by analyzing the content data stored in the storage unit to cause the storage unit to store the content analysis results by associating with the content data stored in the storage unit and also perform processing to transmit the content analysis results to the other apparatus.

Abstract: Spatial auditory cues are produced while a user searches a database for stored information. The spatial auditory cues assist the user in quickly locating stored information by producing sounds that are perceived at specific physical locations in space around the user as the search proceeds. Each location may be associated with different information. Thus, using the techniques disclosed herein, a user can more easily recall stored information by remembering the locations of sound produced by particular spatial auditory cues. The spatial auditory cues may be used in conjunction with a visual search interface. A method of producing auditory cues includes receiving a search action at a user interface included in a device, translating the search action into a spatial auditory cue corresponding to a specific location within a space, and rendering the spatial auditory cue as an audio output signal.

Abstract: The systems and methods described create a mathematical representation of each of the media objects for which user ratings are known. The mathematical representations take into account the subjective rating value assigned by a user to the respective media object and the user that assigned the rating value. The media object with the mathematical representation closest to that of the seed media object is then selected as the most similar media object to the seed media object. In an embodiment, the mathematical representation is a vector representation in which each user is a different dimension and each user's rating value is the magnitude of the vector in that dimension. Similarity between two songs is determined by identifying the closest vectors to that of the seed song. Closeness may be determined by subtracting or by calculating the dot product of each of the vectors with that of the seed media object.

Abstract: A system and method employs an online site for making stored digital video recordings available for selection and download to a wireless communications device. Upon receipt of a selection for a digital video recording, the system and method causes the selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless communications device. The selected digital video recording is also made available to a personal computer associated with the user who made the selection. At least a title of the selected digital video recording is stored in a personal storage account of the user.