Abstract: A pedestrian alert system supported on a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or a wearable computing device which is employed by a user to engage in various activities, is configured to provide visual, auditory, or haptic alerts when the system uses location sensing and map data to determine the user's proximity to a pedestrian street crossing. The alert attracts the user's attention by having the user perform an explicit action to dismiss the alert before being able to continue with the activities on the device. Operations are suspended for applications rendering content on the device display (e.g., a touch screen), user inputs are disabled, and the display may be blurred, dimmed, obscured, or otherwise deactivated. The pedestrian alert system can take a snapshot of application state prior to suspension so that the applications can gracefully resume operations without disruption once the alert is manually or automatically dismissed.

Abstract: Techniques for conditional presentation of auxiliary information are provided. In one example, a computer-implemented method comprises determining, by a device operatively coupled to a processor, feedback information for a user in response to a media presentation, wherein the feedback information is indicative of a mental state of the user during presentation of the media presentation. The computer-implemented method can further comprise determining content of the media presentation associated with the mental state of the user, and determining auxiliary information about the content based on the mental state of the user. The computer-implemented method can further comprise providing, by the device, the content to a user device during the presentation of the media presentation and for rendering at the user device in association with presentation of the content.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using a mobile device to remotely control a desktop application that was configured for use with a pointing device. During operation, the system receives at a mobile device, from a user, a connection request to connect to a desktop application executing on a remote device. In response to the connection request, the system establishes a remote control session between the mobile device and the remote device. Next, the system receives, at the mobile device, a video stream from a first camera coupled to the mobile device. The system then analyzes the video stream, at the mobile device, to identify a gesture made by the user. Next, the system identifies, at the mobile device, a pointing device command corresponding to the gesture. Finally, the system sends the pointing device command to the desktop application executing on the remote device.

Abstract: A method provides for greatly reducing the time required for humans and machines to review long periods of recorded surveillance video, obtain images with high spatial and temporal detail, and greatly reduce the amount of data required for review. An Internet-accessible camera continuously captures video and records it internally in one or more series of short “normal” files. Each series of normal files has a particular resolution and frame rate. Periodically, a time-lapse video is also created within the camera, from images from a number of most-recent files in a given series of normal files. A user interface enables viewing a sequence of time-lapse videos, pausing playback, and clicking over to a normal video file it was made from, to view images with greater temporal detail, and back again. The method includes multiple resolutions of normal files and multiple series of time-lapse videos with different durations and sample rates.

Abstract: A display system includes a plurality of terminals and a head mounted display. The head mounted display performs wireless communication with the plurality of terminals. The head mounted display includes a main controller and a display controller. The main controller detects a line-of-sight direction of a user. The main controller specifies a single terminal out of the plurality of terminals based on the detected line-of-sight direction of the user. The display controller causes at least one setting screen of the terminal specified by the main controller to be displayed such as to be viewable to the use.

Abstract: An information presenting device (100) presents image information; an operative device (200) accepts a predetermined input operation during the presentation of the image information; a guide information managing device (300) stores date and time information indicating a date and a time at which the input operation is accepted, image specifying information specifying image information presented when the input operation is accepted, and guide destination information indicating a guide destination to which the user is guided is stored in a database in association with one another, the guide destination information being specified by the date and time information, and the image specifying information; and a guide device (400) presents the guide destination information in response to a request from the user.

Abstract: A broadcast audience interaction and feedback system may discover and activate a recording function of a portable device of a user to record audio and/or video of media content output by a media device in proximity to the user. The audio or video data may be used to identify the content by matching audio or video fingerprints or signatures of the data recorded by the portable device with separately generated signatures or fingerprints associated with the content. Additional entities may be automatically associated with the content via capturing of metadata or closed captioning data during the content, OCR of displayed text in the content, or detection of other such entities. In some implementations, the portable device may also capture feedback from the user, including cheering, applause, and laughter, as well as explicit questions or comments, voting choices, etc.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform operations, for example, including determining a first correlation value between a behavior of a first audience member and a subject matter being presented at a display processor, wherein the subject matter being presented at the display is observable by the first audience member. A second correlation value is determined between the behavior of the first audience member and a characteristic of an environment in a vicinity of the display and the first audience member. Responsive to the second correlation value exceeding the first correlation value, a determination is made as to whether a present channel selection resulting from user input initiated by the first audience member is responsive to the characteristic of the environment influencing the audience member more than the subject matter being presented at the display. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A face clustering system for video face clustering in a video sequence, the system including an inherent supervision summarization device configured to collect group-level supervision and instance level supervision within a same chunklet based on a user input of face images for a person, a discriminative projection learning device configured to embed group constraints of the group-level supervision into a transformed space, and configured to generate an embedding space from the original image feature space, and a clustering device, in the embedding space, configured to execute pair-wise based clustering to cluster the video images into different clusters with the instance level supervision collected by the inherent supervision summarization device.

Abstract: A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.

Abstract: An intelligent monitoring system for care place is illustrated. The system includes a thermal camera capturing a thermal image of the care place; an image processing unit obtaining user's position and number of user according to region in which temperature is higher than a preset temperature in the thermal image; a temperature recording unit extracting and records user's temperature from the thermal image. When there is only one user, a abnormal event determining unit of the system determines whether an abnormal event occurs according to user's temperature changing rate. When there are several users, the abnormal event determining unit determines whether the abnormal event occurs according to both of the temperature changing rates of the users and an average temperature of the users. If the abnormal event occurs, the warning unit generates a warning signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for control of bandwidth reclamation in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the invention provides a network operator or subscriber with the ability to disable or otherwise control reclamation in a switched digital video (SDV) network. A controller uses rules in determining whether to reclaim bandwidth. These rules designate certain carriers, content, devices and/or subscribers as high priority (or protected from reclamation). In one variant, the rules determine which subscribers are queried (“pinged”) in order to evaluate whether delivered content is actually being utilized by these subscribers. Alternatively, selected ones of the devices are configured so as to generate an automatic response to any ping messages. In another variant, the rules for disabling bandwidth reclamation are entered via user interaction with an application running on a client device and in communication with the controller via a network proxy, or with the SDV server directly.

Abstract: A broadcast audience interaction and feedback system may discover and activate a recording function of a portable device of a user to record audio and/or video of media content output by a media device in proximity to the user. The audio or video data may be used to identify the content by matching audio or video fingerprints or signatures of the data recorded by the portable device with separately generated signatures or fingerprints associated with the content. Additional entities may be automatically associated with the content via capturing of metadata or closed captioning data during the content, OCR of displayed text in the content, or detection of other such entities. In some implementations, the portable device may also capture feedback from the user, including cheering, applause, and laughter, as well as explicit questions or comments, voting choices, etc.

Abstract: A sponsor of ads included in media content broadcast to devices by a media broadcast system for viewing by users can receive realtime feedback from users indicative of user evaluation of the presently broadcast and viewed ad. User devices anonymously acquire, process, analyze and broadcast user responses to broadcast ads viewed on the device, the responses preferably made with natural user gestures. User responses broadcast from the device are received by the media broadcast system. Ad sponsors may the customized the ad and/or future ads for the user based upon feedback and, if present, a user history profile. Broadcast ads can allow user to preselect desired ads by interacting with sponsor logos or icons presented on the device. Gesture data can be acquired, processed and broadcast to the media broadcast system for latent, incomplete, user responses, and for responses made during non-ad portions of the broadcast media.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire.

Abstract: A media access device such as, for example, a cable or satellite set top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, and/or a digital media receivers automatically optimizes an order of content choices presented in a content listing, such as a program guide display, favorite channel display, and/or a recording listing display based on the past viewing and/or recording history of a current user.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system is provided, including a beamformer in communication with a transducer probe to acquire ultrasound image data for communication by a transceiver. An identity server can include a series of profiles each including a unique identifier of an external environment and a unique predefined system setting of the system. A tracking system can scan for a first tag having a unique identifier of a user of the system and for a second tag having a unique identifier of the patient. The identity server is operable to select a match of one of the series of profiles based on the acquired unique identifier and automatically communicate the profile to the transceiver for automatic activation of the system settings to the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: A display device, a remote control device for the display device, a method of controlling the display device, a method of controlling the remote control device, and a method of controlling a server includes collecting at least one piece of situation information or receiving at least one piece of situation information from a remote control device, determining a current state of a user based on the collected or received at least one piece of situation information, instructing the remote control device to output a notification signal corresponding to the current state of the user, and generating the control command according to the current state of the user and providing a sense-based image service to the user according to the control command.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatus and methods including communication circuits for communicating between a plurality of compartments in a vehicle. An array of flexible cables provides signal-communication paths between the plurality of compartments in the vehicle, with each cable having a glass or silica core region for conveying optical signals, and communicating signals (electrical signals and optical signals) along at least one of the signal-communication paths and between the plurality of compartments in the vehicle. The apparatus and methods also include a plurality of circuits that communicate status-indication signals between locations along the array of flexible cables. The status-indication signals are communicated via the signal-communication paths in the flexible array of cables and are indicative of vehicle-travel modes for reporting a status of the vehicle in a mode relative to travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A computer may be configured to identify, using data received wirelessly from an identification device associated with a home entertainment system, a user of an entertainment session. The computer may retrieve a user profile that includes set physical positioning, physical orientation, and viewing information of a primary display device and a secondary display device. The computer may wirelessly control adjustment of a physical position of the primary and secondary display devices in association with the user profile.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including identifying a presentation of a first media item. From sensing data, a behavior of an audience member and a characteristic of an environment in a vicinity of the audience member are determined. A tuning status is monitored by which the media processor remains tuned to a first media item or tunes away to a second media item. A first correlation value is determined between the characteristic of the first audience member and subject matter of the first media item, and a second correlation value is determined between the characteristic of the first audience member and the characteristic of the environment. Responsive to the second correlation value exceeding the first, a determination is made that the environment, not the subject matter being presented in the first media item, is responsible for the tuning status. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for contour fitting and posture identification initially receives sensor data formed of a plurality of sensor signals. Thereafter at least one candidate posture or contour is determined from a set of at least one posture model based on the sensor data. Finally, user posture is determined from the at least one candidate posture through a decision making process. The sensor data can also be used to modify the at least one posture model for increasing identification accuracy. The sampling frequency of each sensor signal is dynamically adjusted to receive the sensor data in a nearly real-time manner.

Abstract: An alarm system includes two subsystems: a security subsystem that performs critical alarm condition monitoring and reporting; and an auxiliary subsystem that allows execution of other non-critical software components. The security subsystem may monitor the performance of the auxiliary subsystem, and maintain the performance by resetting and/or otherwise controlling the execution of software and use of hardware at the auxiliary subsystem, providing increased overall reliability of the security system, without compromising its ability to monitor security conditions at an associated premises.

Abstract: A tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer. The receiver performs the appropriate actions in response to the tags. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a multimedia content over a network is provided. The multimedia content comprises a standard-content part and a customized-content part. The customized-content part comprises one or more multimedia components. The method comprises the steps of selecting one or more of the multimedia components based on a predetermined set of preferences to obtain a multimedia component set comprising one or more multimedia components. The method further comprises customizing dynamically one or more of the multimedia components belonging to the multimedia component set based on the predetermined set of preferences. Thereafter, the method integrates the multimedia components to obtain the customized-content part. Further, the customized-content part is associated with the multimedia content and the multimedia content is displayed with the customized-content part.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for using location information to manage spillover in an audience monitoring system are disclosed. In an example method, a first location signal and a second location signal are received substantially simultaneously at a portable metering device. The first location signal is emitted via a first device located at a first location and includes a first signal characteristic associated with the first location. The second location signal is emitted via a second device located at a second location and includes a second signal characteristic associated with the second location. The first location signal or the second location signal is selected based on the first and second signal characteristics. Media monitoring information is generated based on the selected signal.

Abstract: A computer or entertainment system is configured to respond to data received from a micro impulse radar configured to detect movement, physiology, posture, presence, and/or absence of a person in one or more regions near the computer or entertainment system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including identifying a presentation of a first media item. From sensing data, a behavior of an audience member and a characteristic of an environment in a vicinity of the audience member are determined. A tuning status is monitored by which the media processor remains tuned to a first media item or tunes away to a second media item. A first correlation value is determined between the characteristic of the first audience member and subject matter of the first media item, and a second correlation value is determined between the characteristic of the first audience member and the characteristic of the environment. Responsive to the second correlation value exceeding the first, a determination is made that the environment, not the subject matter being presented in the first media item, is responsible for the tuning status. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A consumer electronics (CE) device receives, from an imager and/or a microphone, an emotion signal representing an expression of a user of the CE device. Also, a biometric sensor generates a biometric signal representing a biometric parameter of the user of the CE device. Based on the emotion signal and biometric signal, a rating is determined that is related to content presented on the CE device at or near the time the emotion signal and biometric signal were generated.

Abstract: This broadcasting receiver includes a receiving portion receiving a broadcast signal, a determination portion determining whether or not a user to be subject to parental control of the broadcast signal has entered a prescribed range, and a control portion performing control of enabling parental control corresponding to a user determined to have entered the prescribed range in the case where the parental control corresponding to the user determined to have entered the prescribed range is disabled when the determination portion determines that the user to be subject to parental control has entered the prescribed range.

Abstract: A system or method for inferring and selective display of visual and sound media content based on a pet(s)'s level of engagement or reactions to content displayed on any number of content display devices including, but not limited to, television screens, computer monitors, tablets, and cell phones and measured by a sensor. A content selection algorithm takes as input the sensor measurements and historical or pre-computed data to infer the pet(s)'s preference for content. A content modification algorithm interposes algorithmically computed shapes and sounds overlaid on top of the existing content to attract the attention of the pet(s) observing the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing liquid, such as water, with the dispensing of the liquid associated with a media presentation, for example, a video presentation, viewable on a monitor of the apparatus by consumers proximate to the apparatus, including the consumer to whom the water is being dispensed, is disclosed. The media presentation begins upon the dispensing of the water, and continues until it is stopped or completes (ends).

Abstract: A cable television system with integrated social streaming. The cable television system with integrated social streaming includes a set-top box in communication with a camera and/or a microphone that allows video and/or audio communication over a social streaming channel offered by the cable provider. The cable television system with integrated social streaming provides an interactive experience for a set-top box user by allowing the user to participate in video and/or audio conversations with friends on supported social streaming services.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a communication unit for receiving, from an external device, degree-of-attention information including information on a degree of attention, for each part of first content, calculated based on a state of viewing of a user, and a priority information generation unit for generating, using the degree-of-attention information, priority information including information on a priority for viewing for each part of second content. The communication unit transmits the priority information to the external device.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for determining a future portion of a currently presented media program. The techniques and apparatuses can receive current media reactions of one or many people to a currently presented media program and determine later portions to present in the media program based on the media reactions. In some embodiments, for example, a program can be presented live, reactions can be received during the live presentation, and the program altered on-the-fly and in real time based on those reactions. Further, the alterations can be general or tailored to a group or a particular person.

Abstract: A method for measuring viewer attentiveness to an audio-visual presentation on one display in the presence of a visual distraction on another display simulating a “second screen”, comprising: reproducing the audio-visual presentation for viewing by a viewer on a first display; while the audio-visual presentation is being reproduced for viewing by the viewer, providing the visual distraction to the viewer on a second display; and determining whether the viewer switches from viewing the audio-visual presentation to the visual distraction and, if so, continuing to reproduce at least the audio of the audio-visual presentation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recommending content to a user are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with a built-in or separately connected image capturing device which may be used to pinpoint the location of the remote control when it is activated, thereby defining the specific location of the remote and the user. The relative location of the user in the room where the television is located may be associated with that particular user and used to automatically log in and access their user profile. This information may be used to enhance the television experience for the user by, e.g., recommending content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically transitioning content based on facial recognition, wherein the method may include receiving a signal from a camera, identifying a face of a viewer within an area, retrieving a user identifier associated with the face of the viewer, selecting a program, and displaying the program.

Abstract: In a data acquisition system a sensor module includes a motion sensor and a communication controller. The motion sensor and communication controller are prepared in a form factor adapted to be received within, or otherwise readily used with, the user appliance. A data signal produced by the motion sensor is adaptable for compliance validation.

Abstract: Example systems, methods and machine readable media are disclosed. An example system includes a synchronizer to time shift first response data gathered from a subject exposed to media a first amount to align the first response data with second response data simultaneously gathered from the subject to form aligned data. The first response data is associated with a first component of the media, and the second response data is associated with a second component of media. The example system also includes an analyzer to determine an effectiveness of the media based on the aligned data.

Abstract: Embodiments related to delivering a video stream to a requesting viewer are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a video stream is delivered by receiving a request for the video stream from a requesting device, the request including the requesting viewer's identity, assembling a list of selected video content items for display to the requesting viewer, the selected video items being selected from a plurality of video items based on the identity of the requesting viewer and a viewing interest profile comprising the requesting viewer's viewing interests, and sending the video stream for display, the video stream including one or more of the selected video items.

Abstract: During the display of video content to a viewing audience, a system receives feedback information from the viewing audience concerning the displayed video content. At a later time and based on the feedback, the system substitutes portions of a downloaded data stream with different content.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.

Abstract: An apparatus arranged to insert accompanying information into a multimedia signal, the apparatus constituted of: a multimedia receiver; a point of interest (POI) identifier arranged to identify a POI in the received multimedia signal responsive to content of the received multimedia signal; an inserter arranged to insert accompanying information into the received multimedia signal responsive to an output of the POI identifier; an output device arranged to transmit the output of the inserter to a display device, the identification, insertion and output being contemporaneous with the receiving; a server; a user gesture signal receiver arranged to receive a signal responsive to a user gesture; and a communication device, wherein the inserted accompanying information encourages a user to perform a gesture with a device in communication with the user gesture signal receiver, and wherein the communication device is arranged to transmit the received signal responsive to the user gesture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cataloging and recognizing gestures are disclosed. A gesture may be detected using sample motion data. An energy value and baseline value may be computed. The baseline value may be updated if the energy value is below a calm energy threshold. The sample motion data may be adjusted based on the updated baseline value. A local variance may be calculated over a number of samples. Sample motion data values may be recorded if the local variance exceeds a threshold. Sample motion data recording may stop if a local variance scalar value falls below a drop threshold. Input Gestures may be recognized by computing a total variance for sample values in an Input Gesture; calculating a figure of merit using sample values from the Input Gesture and one or more Catalog Gestures; and determining whether the Input Gesture matches a Catalog Gesture from the figure of merit.

Abstract: A method of recommending media content for a media playing system includes identifying a user in a viewing area; determining whether personal information of the user is stored in a database; and generating information related to a first media content recommendation according to the personal information when the personal information of the user is stored in the database.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for managing audience data for advertisement placements is disclosed. A server receives a source signal stream comprising metadata and an advertisement space. The server extracts from the metadata a channel identifier, a private client identifier, and information about an intended audience of interest to advertisers. The server identifies a placement opportunity including an owner of the advertisement space based on the channel identifier. The server purges at least some of the extracted information about the intended audience when the owner of the advertisement space is identified as a national network. The server identifies an amount of information about the intended audience to purge and subsequently to fetch for the national network based on a business arrangement between the national network and a service provider, which the server enforces and enables.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for identifying computer systems being used by viewers of television programs is presented. An audio signal received from a microphone of a television metering device is monitored, where the audio signal corresponds to audio of a television program presented on the television set and audio tones generated by computer systems of viewers of the television set. The audio signal is analyzed to determine an identifier for the television program being presented on the television set and to identify an audio tone generated by a computer system of a viewer of the television set. An identifier of the computer system associated with the audio tone is determined. An identifier for the television metering device, the identifier for the television program, and the identifier of the computer system is transmitted to a server.