Abstract: Provided is a viewing terminal apparatus that can present an appropriate result of statistics on viewing of a content for diversified viewing modes. The viewing terminal apparatus includes: a category determining unit that determines, as a viewer category, a relationship between viewers who are viewing a content displayed on a display; a transmitting unit that transmits, to the viewing statistics-gathering apparatus, first viewing status information indicating the content that is being viewed by the viewers and the viewer category determined by the category determining unit, the content being associated with the viewer category; and a viewing statistics presenting unit that obtains viewing statistics information from the viewing statistics-gathering apparatus, and presents a result of statistics that is (i) indicated by the obtained viewing statistics information and (ii) a result of statistics on viewing of a content only by viewers who belong to a predetermined viewer category.

Abstract: A method for providing a user interface (UI) and a video receiving apparatus using the same are provided. According to the method for providing the UI, a video is received and displayed, one from among a plurality of persons appearing in the video is selected, user motion is photographed, a motion similarity is calculated between the photographed user motion and the motion of the selected person, and information relating to the calculated motion similarity is displayed on the UI. The user can watch the video, exercise without having to use the game terminal or the sensor, and can check his or her exercise information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling an electronic device including receiving a signal through a light sensor of the device, identifying with a processor of the device whether the received signal originated from a light emitter of the device, and controlling a function of the device, the function selected based on whether the signal is identified as originating from the light emitter of the device or the light emitter separate from the device.

Abstract: Techniques for obtaining a reaction of an individual to content and outputting the reaction of the individual with the content are described herein. The techniques may include obtaining the reaction of the individual as the content is displayed to the individual. The reaction may be obtained by capturing a video of the individual. The reaction of the individual and the content may be output at a same time to another individual. These techniques may also include obtaining the reaction of another individual as the content and the reaction of the individual are output to another individual.

Abstract: An advertisement system includes an advertising manager that receives a content-event indicator, which indicates playback of an advertisement for viewing on a first display screen at a media-playback device or indicates playback of recorded content that includes advertisements. The advertising manager can determine an optimal time offset as a duration of time before or after playback of an advertisement to the start of an event that is associated with the advertisement for viewing on a second display screen at a mobile device. For recorded content, an optimization schedule is determined that replaces and time-shifts advertisements during playback of the recorded content. The advertising manager can also determine a fulfillment criterion for a product or service based on latency constraints to indicate a duration of time within which fulfillment of the product or service is expected when offered as a second advertisement corresponding to a first advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify exposure to three dimensional media presentations are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first brightness level with a first sensor and a second brightness level with a second sensor at a first time. A third brightness level is detected with the first sensor and a fourth brightness level is detected with the second sensor at a second time later than the first time. A 3D media counter is incremented when either: the first brightness is greater than the second brightness and the third brightness is less than the fourth brightness, or the first brightness is less than the second brightness and the third brightness is greater than the fourth brightness. The media is identified as 3D media when the 3D media counter exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing movie lists of available media content are provided. The movies included in the movie lists may be of particular interest to the user and may be derived from active user monitoring, editorial ratings information, user movie viewing preferences, network statistics, third-party activity ratings, and other user-derived or system-derived criteria. A user who is in need of media guidance may access a movie list and perform any suitable media guidance application function on any movie or movies in the movie list. The movie lists may be dynamically updated so that an up-to-date list is always available at any given moment. Movie recommendations, including movie gifts and the actual movie itself, may be sent to other users in the media system.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus may include an operation panel, a driving device, an image pickup device, a face detection unit, and a control unit. The operation panel may be configured to move. The driving device may be configured to move the operation panel. The image pickup device may be configured to be installed proximate the operation panel, and/or to capture an image of a user. The face detection unit may be configured to detect a position of a facial image of the user within the image captured by the image pickup device. The control unit may be configured to control the driving device such that the operation panel and an optical axis of the image pickup device move according to the position of the facial image detected by the face detecting unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect user attentiveness to handheld computing devices are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a change of a handheld computing device from a first starting spatial condition to a first ending spatial condition; and querying an index associating a plurality of spatial condition changes with respective likelihoods indicative of user attentiveness to determine if the index includes an entry having the first starting spatial condition and the first ending spatial condition of the detected change.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of setting a channel are disclosed, wherein the method includes steps as follows. First, a channel is locked as a locked channel. Then, when the locked channel is switched to another channel, a screen is controlled to display information related to the locked channel, and first duration after the locked channel is switched to foresaid another channel is counted. Then, a prompting is performed when the first duration exceeds a first predetermined period.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for inferring a demographic composition of a television audience of a television program. In one aspect, a method extrapolates television audience demographics from rated programs to unrated programs by attributing demographics of rated programs to unrated programs when the rated and unrated program are related by demographically rated channel tunes.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for determining an audience's state or interest using passive sensor data. The techniques receive sensor data that measures an audience during presentation of a media program. The techniques, based on this sensor data, then determine a state or interest of the audience members during the media program.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering personalized media items to users of an interactive television is disclosed. The system comprises a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device. The system stores a personal profile for each of its users. Personal mobile devices associated with the users are connected wirelessly to the computing device. Identities of the users may be transmitted from the personal mobile devices to the computing device. Media items are selected based upon the personal profiles according to a predetermined algorithm. Media items may be displayed using scrolling tickers on the television terminal. In one embodiment, a detailed content of a selected media item may be delivered either on the television terminal or on a display of one of the personal mobile device. In another embodiment, scrolling tickers may also be displayed on displays of the personal mobile devices.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving, at a set-top box device, an activation request from a monitoring service associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the set-top box device. The activation request is received when one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method further includes activating the video camera based on a response to a prompt.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring audience reaction to media content includes obtaining images or other information of each individual of the audience as the individual views the content and analyzing the images or other information with software to generate emotional response source data for each individual. The emotional response source data identifies the emotion or emotions or change of emotions of the individual as interpreted by the software. The emotional response source data of the individuals is aggregated to identify a set of primary emotions of the audience, and thereafter, the emotional response source data is re-evaluated in view of the primary emotions to refine and more accurately classify the emotional responses of each individual of the audience.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements is provided herein. In particular, targeted advertisements are provided to users based on face clustering for time-varying video. During operation video is continuously obtained of users of the system. Users' faces are detected and measured. Measurements of users' faces are then clustered. Once the clusters are available, advertisements are targeted at clusters rather than individual users.

Abstract: An electronic advertisement system is provided by which, when an advertisement effect that corresponds to billing conditions is not obtained, an advertiser is free from an obligation to pay advertisement fee so that the advertiser can run an advertisement without having an economic risk. An electronic advertisement sending side computer has a billing tag addition means for adding, to electronic advertisement data, a tag composed of information describing billing conditions. A receiving side computer includes: a display unit that outputs, as output data, video and audio of received electronic advertisement data; and an electronic device that acquires the circumstance around the display unit as input data. A program of the receiving side computer has an input video analysis means that determines whether billing conditions for outputted electronic advertisement data are achieved or not by analyzing input data from the electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information displaying apparatus which efficiently arouses an interest of the audience member to content to be displayed.

Abstract: An information processing method includes the steps of: obtaining biometric information expressing biometric responses exhibited by a user during content playback; obtaining metadata for each content of which biometric information is obtained; identifying attributes linked to the biometric information within the attributes included in the obtained metadata and identifying, in the case of content wherein identified attribute values differ but the user exhibits similar biometric responses during playback, the different value of the attribute linked to the biometric information as a value not necessary to be distinguished; reconfiguring a profile by merging the information relating to the value which is identified which is not necessary to be distinguished, from the information included in the user profile; identifying recommended content based on the reconfigured profile; and presenting the identified recommended content information to the user.

Abstract: A system for estimating audience state using the video signal relative to an imaged audience and audio signal according to voices from the audience generated in an input unit. A characteristic amount detection unit detects information on a movement amount, movement periodicity, a volume, voice periodicity of the audience, and a frequency component of voices from the audience based on the video signal or the audio signal. An estimation unit estimates an audience state based on the detected result. An output unit outputs the estimated result of the audience state. The audience state can be easily estimated without observing the audience state by a person.

Abstract: A system can include storage for identification data for individuals; an interface configured to receive image data; recognition circuitry configured to recognize individuals using received image data and stored identification data; grouping circuitry configured to define groups based on recognized individuals; assignment circuitry configured to assign media consumption preferences to defined groups; and output circuitry configured to output preferred media information based on assigned media consumption preferences of a defined group of recognized individuals. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to maintain audience privacy while determining viewing of video-on-demand (VOD) programs are disclosed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing an image shot by a camera, a voice analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing voice input from a microphone, and a data processing unit receiving inputs of an analysis result of the image analyzing unit and an analysis result of the voice analyzing unit and controlling information to be output to a user. The data processing unit determines an output mode of the information to be provided to the user based on user information obtained from at least either one of the image analysis result and the voice analysis result, and system state information, and outputs the information to the user in the determined output mode.

Abstract: A system for pulling video content over a data communications network. The system comprises at least one video display, at least one video file server containing a number of video files to be selectively displayed on the at least one video display, at least one media server to communicate with one or more video displays, a web client to communicate with each media server through a network to configure at least one playlist in the media server, each playlist including at least one identifier to select one or more of the number of video files, and each media server being adapted to pull video content from a selected video file in a selected video file server based on the playlist and to translate the pulled video content into a video output signal suitable for display on the video display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enforce a power off state of an audience measurement device during shipping of the device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing, a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data and a packaging sensor to detect a stimulus generated within the package. A packaging detector compares the detected stimulus to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within the package.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and updating user availability based upon presence and television viewing behavior are described herein. In one embodiment, a presence system is used to detect a user's presence to update the user's availability status. The availability status is then used to update a contact list, voicemail message, and/or busy message. In further embodiments, user preferences are used in combination with presence data to update the user's availability status. In still further embodiments, a user's television viewing behavior is used in combination with the presence data, user preferences, or both to update the user's availability status. Alternative embodiments provide systems and methods in accordance with the present invention for other interactive devices.

Abstract: A system comprising at least one processor, at least one sensor electronically connected to the at least one processor, at least one means for electronically connecting at least one broadcasting device to the system, wherein the at least one means for electronically connecting at least one broadcasting device is electronically connected to the at least one processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to use the at least one sensor to determine how many persons or the identity of a person that is capable of perceiving a content broadcasted through at least one broadcasting device electronically connected to the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer's viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a movie to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a foreground action estimating apparatus and a foreground action estimating method, wherein the foreground action estimating apparatus includes: a training image inputting means for inputting a foreground image, a background image and an image having the foreground and background images as training images; a basis matrix calculating means for calculating a foreground basis matrix and a background basis matrix by respectively extracting a foreground feature and a background feature from the foreground image and the background image, respectively, and combining the foreground basis matrix and the background basis matrix to obtain a combined basis matrix; a feature suppressing means for calculating the feature coefficients of the training images in accordance with the combined basis matrix obtained by the basis matrix calculating means so as to obtain image features of the background-feature-suppressed training images; and a foreground action information acquiring means for estimat

Abstract: A novel approach enables an event-based framework for evaluating a media instance based on key events of the media instance. First, physiological responses are derived and aggregated from the physiological data of viewers of the media instance. The key events in the media instance can then be identified, wherein such key events drive and determine the viewers' responses to the media instance. Causal relationship between the viewers' responses to the key events and their surveyed feelings about the media instance can further be established to identify why and what might have caused the viewers to feel the way they do.

Abstract: An application for a television has a detector capable of determining the identity and/or presence of at least one viewer in a viewing area of the television. In response to viewers entering and leaving the viewing area of the television, the television adjusts its operation based upon settings for the currently present viewers (e.g., enables channels, content, etc).

Abstract: An artificial intelligence video analysis recommendation system and method is provided that allows video viewers to discover new videos and video producers to evaluate the potential success of a new project as well as to understand the perceptual factors beneath audience ratings. The system and method accomplish these tasks by analyzing a database of video in order to identify key similarities between different pieces of video, and then recommends pieces of video to a user depending upon their video preferences. An embodiment enables a user to evaluate a new video's similarity to videos already established as commercially valuable.

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: Embodiments related to selecting advertisements for display to targeted viewers are disclosed. In one example embodiment, an advertisement is selected by, for each of a plurality of advertisements, aggregating a plurality of emotional response profiles from a corresponding plurality of prior viewers of the advertisement to form an aggregated emotional response profile for the advertisement, wherein each of the emotional response profiles comprises a temporal record of a prior viewer's emotional response to the advertisement. The method further includes identifying a group of potentially positively correlated viewers for the targeted viewer, filtering the aggregated emotional response profiles based on the group of potentially positively correlated viewers, selecting a particular advertisement from the plurality of advertisements based on a correlation of the filtered aggregated emotional response profiles, and sending the particular advertisement for display to the targeted viewer.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that enable remote and interactive access, navigation, and analysis of reactions from viewers to a media instance. The reactions include physiological responses, survey results, verbatim feedback, event-based metadata, and derived statistics for indicators of success and failure from the viewers. The reactions are aggregated, and an interface enables remote access and navigation of the media instance, aggregated physiological responses synchronized with the media instance, survey results, and/or verbatim feedback related to the media instance. This enables users to interactively divide, dissect, parse, and analyze the reactions as they prefer. This automation provides an automated process enabling non-experts to understand complex physiological data, and to organize presentation of complex data according to their needs so as to present conclusions as appropriate to the media instance.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that enable remote and interactive access, navigation, and analysis of reactions from viewers to a media instance. The reactions include physiological responses, survey results, verbatim feedback, event-based metadata, and derived statistics for indicators of success and failure from the viewers. The reactions are aggregated, and an interface enables remote access and navigation of the media instance, aggregated physiological responses synchronized with the media instance, survey results, and/or verbatim feedback related to the media instance. This enables users to interactively divide, dissect, parse, and analyze the reactions as they prefer. This automation provides an automated process enabling non-experts to understand complex physiological data, and to organize presentation of complex data according to their needs so as to present conclusions as appropriate to the media instance.

Abstract: Exemplary targeted advertising systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a media content presentation system presenting a media content program comprising an advertisement break, detecting an ambient action performed by a user during the presentation of the media content program, selecting an advertisement associated with the detected ambient action, and presenting the selected advertisement during the advertisement break. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method and device for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user are provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of at least one device that includes a source device. An instruction is received from a user to present program content from the source device. A set of one or more sink devices missing from the home entertainment system for a presentation of the program content based on an assessment by the wireless home entertainment hub of presentation capabilities of the home entertainment system using the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub is determined. The set of one or more sink devices is presented to the user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can communicate with plural content viewing apparatuses includes a group registering unit that registers users of the content viewing apparatuses in groups, a sharing-level setting unit that sets sharing level information representing an information sharing level among users belonging to an identical group, a viewing-information receiving unit that receives viewing information of the users, a user-viewing-content managing unit that manages a user viewing content database, a discriminating unit that discriminates, when a viewing information request of another user is received, the other users belonging to a group identical with a group to which the user of the content viewing apparatus at the request source belongs, an information extracting unit that extracts viewing information of the discriminated other users from the user viewing content database, and a viewing-information transmitting unit that transmits the viewing information to the content viewing apparatus at t

Abstract: Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer's viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a movie to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.

Abstract: A method of controlling presentation of content to a user is provided. The method involves the operation of a set-top box device to present audio/video content to the user. The method collects sensor data at the set-top box device, and then determines, from the sensor data, that the user is likely to be asleep. The method continues by initiating, with the set-top box device, at least one change to presentation characteristics associated with the audio/video content. For example, the set-top box device could lower the volume of the presentation device and/or lower the brightness of the display.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for consuming media content among a group of at least two entities. The at least two entities may include a host entity. It is advantageous that the host entity is able to determine the at least one reaction of each of the entities other than the host entity in real-time during consumption of the media content. It is preferable that the host entity is able to ascertain a spontaneous perception of the media content by each of the entities other than the host entity by determining the at least one reaction of each of the entities other than the host entity.

Abstract: A method whereby an actual image of a TV viewer as captured by a camera housed in the TV or an emotion rank, which is either an emoticon or descriptive words corresponding to the emoticon, generated by ranking engine software can be displayed on the viewer's display or uploaded to a social networking website on the Internet. The viewer may also vote in categorical manner on multiple images of friend's faces pertaining to the video currently being presented.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a channel change event are disclosed. capturing a television audio signal having first, second, and third portions, the first portion occurring earlier in time than the second portion and the second portion occurring earlier in time than the third portion, identifying at least one of a first muted audio condition or a first transient audio condition in the second portion of the television audio signal, and identifying a channel change event in response to: 1) identifying the at least one of the first muted audio condition or the first transient audio condition, 2) failing to identify a second muted audio condition or a second transient audio condition in the first and third portions of the television audio signal, and 3) determining that a time domain length of the second portion of the television audio signal is greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a program signal received from a broadcast source that is to be performed by reproduction equipment, wherein an audio portion of the program signal is broadcast in combination with a monitoring code to provide a combined audio signal, comprising a switch, a code detector, and a component configured to receive the combined signal from the broadcast source and to provide to each of the reproduction equipment and the switch a respective output signal related to the combined signal. The code detector is adapted to receive an audio output from the reproduction equipment which has a mute mode, the reproduction equipment transmitting at least the monitoring code from the combined audio signal to the code detector if not in the mute mode and not transmitting the monitoring code to the code detector if in the mute mode.

Abstract: User occupancy is monitored within a space in which a video display of a content rendering system is viewable. The user occupancy can be monitored based on physical user attributes. At least one of audio rendering and video rendering by the content rendering system is adjusted based on the monitored user occupancy.

Abstract: Video signal relative to an imaged audience and audio signal according to voices from the audience are generated in an input unit. A characteristic amount detection unit detects information on a movement amount, movement periodicity, a volume, voice periodicity of the audience, and a frequency component of voices from the audience based on the video signal or the audio signal. An estimation unit estimates an audience state based on the detected result. An output unit outputs the estimated result of the audience state. The audience state can be easily estimated without observing the audience state by a person.

Abstract: A method and system augments a broadcast by detecting an event that occurs while viewing a broadcast data by at least one user; when the event is detected, automatically capturing feedback data with a human computer interaction (HCI) capturing device (HCICD) from the at least one user, the feedback data being indicative of a measurement of the user from viewing the event; generating a feature data as a function of the feedback data; including the feature data in the broadcast data to generate an augmented broadcast data; and transmitting the augmented broadcast data.

Abstract: Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer's viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a movie to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.