Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards modifying when to publish content to a channel for distribution based on monitored actions associated with previously published content. A plurality of publishing slots may be determined from a plurality of time slots. Each publishing slot may indicate a time to publish content to the channel. Content may be published to the channel at each of the plurality of publishing slots. User actions associated with the published content may be monitored. The plurality of publishing slots may be ranked based on these monitored actions. At least one of the plurality of publishing slots may be modified to a different time slot based on the rankings of the publishing slots. The publication of content at a publishing slot may be delayed based on a success of other content published at a previous publishing slot being above a threshold.

Abstract: A communication device may include logic configured to detect a request to initiate a video call by the user of the communication device; select an avatar for the video call, wherein the avatar corresponds to an image selected by the user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the user; determine a facial expression associated with the user of the communication device; select an avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression; and incorporate the selected avatar facial expression into a video stream associated with the video call.

Abstract: A content player accesses content via a content access list shared by a network of players. The content is stored by one or more of the players. One or more of the players may be thin clients that can access content stored by other players but cannot themselves store content. The content access list lists available stored content. The content player associates a bookmark with the content and includes identification information that identifies the requestor related to generation of the bookmark. When the content player presents the content access list, bookmarks associated with content included in list are also be along with the identification information. In some implementations, the requestor related to generation of the respective bookmark may be the content player that generated the bookmark, the specific user that entered input that prompted generation of the bookmark, and/or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products evaluate performance of a viewer watching programming. A prompt is displayed, and the viewer enters a response to the prompt. The performance of the viewer is based at least partly on a time of the response.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and user-interfaces for creating a collaborative review of an offering may facilitate multiple people (users) collaborating on a review by submitting short statements concerning particular characteristics, traits, or qualities concerning the offering. Users can also vote on the validity or strength of each submitted statement. Votes on statements are tabulated, scores are computed, and the information is fed back to the user. These actions take place over a network with users of computing devices interacting with the system running on one or more servers. In one embodiment, the end results of this process is a single collaborative review for each offering that reflects the experiences, knowledge, and understanding of multiple people concerning that offering. The collaborative review may be made accessible via a network as a useful resource for people in making decisions about that offering.

Abstract: An image display apparatus, comprising: an image display section which displays an image; an attention decision section which determines a degree of attention of a user with respect to the image; an image identifier extraction section which extracts a plurality of identifiers which are assigned to the image and indicate an attribute of the image; an attention identifier detection section which detects an attention identifier from an attention image determined to have a high degree of attention of the user by the attention decision section; and a display control section which detects an image to be displayed having the attention identifier from among the images to be displayed on the image display section, and performs a display control of the image display section so as to further increase the frequency at which the image to be displayed is displayed.

Abstract: A method of personalizing commercial content to be presented to a media consumer, comprising, creating a personal profile of a media consumer, the personal profile reflects real time interaction of said media consumer with media content received from a media provider and presenting a personalized commercial content to the media consumer according to the personal profile.

Abstract: A method for providing programs, the method includes: (i) providing a program multiplex to multiple users device; (ii) considering a removal of at least one program from the multiplex in response to program viewing parameters; (iii) allowing at least one user to respond to a possible removal of the program; and (iv) determining whether to remove the al least one program in response to received user removal responses. A user device that includes a transceiver unit that is connected to a controller, wherein the device is adapted to receive a program multiplex, to receive an indication that at least one program is to be removed from the multiplex, and to selectively transmit a program removal response.

Abstract: Example method disclosed herein to determine source information for media presented by a media device include identifying successive media segments of the presented media from an audio signal received from the media device, respective media segments corresponding to respective durations of uninterrupted presentation of the media by the media device. Disclosed example methods also include identifying a first group of remote control commands detected wirelessly in a first time interval prior to a start of a first one of the media segments. Disclosed example methods further include determining source information for the first one of the media segments based on the first group of remote control commands.

Abstract: A method, performed at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors, includes receiving respective first set-top box (STB) information from a first plurality of STBs. The first STB information received from a respective STB in the first plurality of STBs includes tuning information for the respective STB in the first plurality of STBs, and power status information for a respective display device coupled to the respective STB in the first plurality of STBs. The method also includes storing the first STB information, and determining a viewership metric for the first plurality of STBs based on the tuning information and the power status information in the first STB information.

Abstract: A method including providing at least one of a television service or an Internet access service to a customer; generating predictive options pertaining to content delivered to the customer, wherein the predictive options correspond to possible future events that could occur with respect to the content; receiving a customer selection of one of the predictive options; determining whether the customer-selected predictive option matches an outcome with respect to the content; and assigning a score to the customer based on whether the selected predictive option successfully or unsuccessfully predicted the outcome.

Abstract: A user's interactions with a media player during the playing of a media file may provide a variety of information regarding the user's interests in the media file, or in any objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes expressed or described therein. A media player or the software operating thereon may be modified to receive interactions from the user and/or to analyze such interactions in order to associate the user with such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes. The user's interactions may also be analyzed by a media service, an online marketplace or any external location in order to identify any items related to such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes, or for any other purpose.

Abstract: A method of selecting a factor for estimating characteristics of viewers who view a same content is disclosed. This method includes: storing a multi-layered hierarchal list of attribute words expressing viewer attributes, each of which is a candidate of the factor; extracting the attribute words from the same content; generating a first vector indicative of frequencies with which the attribute words occur in the same content; for a successively-selected one of the attribute words, successively generating a second vector indicative of frequencies with which the attribute words occur in ones of sets of learned-text information which contain the successively-selected attribute word; calculating a similarity score between the vectors on a per-attribute-word basis; and selecting one of the attribute words as the factor, which is associated with subordinate attribute words on a lower layer, based on a dispersion level of the similarity scores calculated for the subordinate attribute words.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving targeted advertising to a user via a user device are described including receiving content provided by a content provider, rendering the provided content, viewing a commercial, wherein the commercial was spliced into the content based on a default commercial selection algorithm at a commercial break, determining if the user wants to rate the commercial, accepting the user's rating of the commercial if the user wants to rate the commercial and communicating the user's rating of the commercial to the content provider.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a user device, first input corresponding to selection of a recommendation option of an electronic program guide. The method includes sending, from the user device to a display device, a first option to base a media content recommendation on a most recently displayed media content item and a second option to base the media content recommendation on a plurality of displayed media content items. The method includes receiving, at the user device, second input that corresponds to the first option or the second option. The method includes sending a request from the user device to a server. The request includes an identifier based on the second input. The method also includes receiving information corresponding to one or more recommended media content items at the user device in response to the request.

Abstract: When the user of a receiving apparatus presses a notice button provided for a remote controller to indicate the preference concerning the person or thing appearing on the screen of the program being viewed, the corresponding signal is transmitted to the receiving section of a set-top box. A view-log storage section stores an input operation command (including the signal indicating that the notice button has been pressed) together with the receiving time thereof as a view log. A view-information generating section reads the view log, generates a view-information packet, and outputs it to a bidirectional communication section. The bidirectional communication section transmits the view-information packet input from the view-information generating section to a broadcasting apparatus through a bidirectional communication network.

Abstract: A system and method for contextually interpreting image sequences are provided. The method comprises receiving video from one or more video sources, and generating one or more questions associated with one or more portions of the video based on at least one user-defined objective. The method further comprises sending the one or more portions of the video and the one or more questions to one or more assistants, receiving one or more answers to the one or more questions from the one or more assistants, and determining a contextual interpretation of the video based on the one or more answers and the video.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for quickly and easily displaying supplemental information about an event occurring in a media asset. In some embodiments, a media application may use a content-recognition module to determine the context of an event and distribute itemized tasks to multiple entities in order to generate the supplemental information about the event.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment of an advertisement allocating system, an image object marking and response element receives a TV program signal and then marks at least one object appearing in the TV program during a current time slot; a user element tallies all the users interested in the object, and collects all the feedback information from all the users on the TV program; based on an allowable advertisement set for the current time slot, an advertisement auto-matching element computes the correlation between each specific object and each advertisement of the allowable advertisement set, computes a score for each advertisement of the allowable advertisement set, and extracts an advertisement candidate group for broadcasting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transmission apparatus for distributing a content to a client, including: a question generation section configured to generate question information representative of a question regarding liking of a user of the client; and a transmission section configured to transmit the question information and provider side answer information in the form of a bit string representative of an answer set by a provider which provides the content to the question regarding the liking of the user to the client.

Abstract: Provided is a system that: makes it possible to get a picture of how satisfaction levels of people viewing content change over time; and can generate content-playback timing and content summaries. A host computer: receives satisfaction-level-data time information and content information from each monitor terminal; computes satisfaction-level-data received count totals for a prescribed time period; organizes the distribution of satisfaction-level-data received count totals from the beginning of a piece of content to the end thereof in a chronological manner; and generates satisfaction-level-data chronological distribution data per piece of content information.

Abstract: Interactive audio-video episodes may be provided in which progression of storylines is contingent upon user interactions with the episodes. User activities may be facilitated during presentation of an episode. The user activities may be contextually related to the storyline of the presented episode. A given user activity may include a visual and/or audio queue to prompt the user to participate in the given user activity. Progression of the storyline of the presented episode may be suspended during the given user activity. One or more user interactions may be received during individual user activities facilitated during presentation of the episode. The storyline may continue to progress after the given user activity responsive to receipt of a given user interaction prompted by the given user activity.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a user selection of an option related to a first content item and sending data to a server to enable the server to update a user profile. The method also includes receiving a channel selection during or after playback of the first content item. The method further includes sending a content recommendation channel request to the server in response to the channel selection corresponding to a content recommendation channel selection and receiving a list of recommended content items from the server. The list of recommended content items is based on the user profile. The method also includes sending a merchandise recommendation channel request to the server in response to the channel selection corresponding to a merchandise recommendation channel selection and receiving a list of recommended merchandise items from the server. The list of recommended merchandise items is based on the user profile.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying tune data from set top boxes associated with televisions, video monitors, or other video playback devices that are likely powered off. In some embodiments, survival curves are constructed that predict a length of time before a video playback device is powered off after a tuning event. The survival curves are used to predict the likelihood that a video playback device is powered off. Viewership estimates made from tune data reported from set top boxes can be adjusted to take account of the video playback devices that are predicted to be powered off.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing polling related data to viewers in an interactive cable televisions system. Users viewing a program can initiate a request for participating in a polling activity. The request and other program-related information are sent to the cable television system provider. Appropriate polling window data is returned to the set top box allowing a polling window to be displayed to the viewer. The viewer may choose one or several selections, and transmit the response to the cable television system provider. User responses can be tallied and presented in real time to the viewer audience. Program producers can incorporate the results of viewer feedback in real-time allowing the outcome of the program to be based on the collective viewer feedback.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for a platform for determining and responding to user sentiments during viewed media content. The method comprises displaying on a display, a plurality of user selectable sentiment actions to a plurality of users during broadcast of a media content, receiving a first selection of at least one of the plurality of user selectable sentiment actions from each of the plurality of users, and determining a first threshold sentiment level based on the first selection of the at least one of the plurality of user selectable sentiment actions. The method may further comprise sharing the first selection of the at least one of the plurality of user selectable sentiment actions from each of the plurality of users using a social media platform. Additionally, the method may also further comprise triggering a sentiment soundtrack corresponding to the first threshold sentiment level.

Abstract: An interactive system and method allow for broadcast of basic content data along with data that define graphical inserts that can be played with or super-imposed on screens of the decoded broadcast. Coordinated pages or screens may be transmitted to audience secondary devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, and so forth. Audience members may participate in an interactive experience by selecting options provided on the secondary devices. Audience responses are received, aggregated, and rules applied in accordance with the desired experience. The graphical indicia are altered during the broadcast, and optionally during or just following a period for audience feedback.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to receive from a media processor a time-sensitive code embedded in a video stream received and presented by the media processor at a presentation device, retrieve collateral information associated with a scene of the video stream according to the time-sensitive code, and transmit the collateral information to a mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods to model user activity information associated with a network system are provided. A particular method includes receiving, at a computing device, a request for user activity information associated with selected channels of a television access network that provides multimedia content to users. The method includes executing a model of user activity associated with the television access network at the computing device. The model estimates the user activity information as user multimedia access demands during particular time periods within a day. The method also includes storing the user activity information at a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device, including a controller to: transmit a client program having a graphical user interface (GUI) to a media device operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, wherein the client program presents a symbolic overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate commentary with the media content received at the media device; and conduct searches for one of consumer products or consumer services associated with the media content based on the commentary regarding the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive system enabling audience participation at a live event taking place in a venue. The system includes use of an interactive device that presents a promotional message (that is displayed on an electronic display) to an audience member, wherein said audience member is capable of responding to said message by entering feedback into said interactive device. Said feedback is transmitted to a central processor, where said feedback is stored as audience data and subsequently processed into results.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a software agent, an electronic device, a display, and a content management system. The electronic device accesses the software agent and interprets it with a software application, such as a web browser. Embedded within the software agent is a playback system, which dictates content to be shown, and a monitoring system, which collects logging and status data. At least some of the content is stored on the electronic device prior to display, and at least some of the logging and status data is stored on the electronic device prior to being transferred to the content management system.

Abstract: In embodiments of media asset voting, a voting application is executed at a controllable device to interface the controllable device with portable devices via a wireless network. The voting application may be initiated at the controllable device by one of the portable devices. A request can be communicated from the controllable device to the portable devices to initiate each of the portable devices sending a user-selected vote for media asset selection at the controllable device. The controllable device receives the user-selected votes from one or more of the portable devices, and the voting application can aggregate each received vote to determine voting results. A media asset can then be selected at the controllable device based on the voting results. Alternatively or in addition, the voting results can be displayed for viewing on a display device that corresponds to the controllable device.

Abstract: A user interaction request is received during playback of video content. The user interaction request can be received independent of any indication from the video content that user interaction is possible. In response to receiving the interaction request, one or more menus are displayed allowing the user to select one or more reaction options and to select whether the selected one or more reaction options are to be communicated to another user or to a content provider.

Abstract: An object is to provide an apparatus that accurately estimates an association between content and a user who performed an operation on the content. The apparatus includes: a first association information generation unit that generates first association information in which content information subjected to an operation and a user who performed the operation are associated; a learning unit that generates learnt information for associating a given user with content likely to be operated by the given user by using the first association information; an estimation unit that estimates a user by using unidentified content information for which the user cannot be identified and the learnt information; and a second association information generation unit that generates second association information in which the unidentified content information and the estimated user are associated.

Abstract: A method and system for the creation of interactive programming using captions. A caption and program information extractor monitors a broadcast media signal having captions and program information encoded in the broadcast media signal. The captions and program information are extracted and stored in a content database. A moderator accesses the content database to retrieve captions and for a program specified by the program information. The moderator uses the services of a moderator server to generate interactive programming from the captions and the moderator's own comments. The interactive programming is transmitted to a plurality of viewers who interact with the interactive programming by entering viewer comments. The viewer comments are received by the moderator along with additional captions and new interactive programming is generated using the viewer comments, additional captions, and additional moderator commentary.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting usage data from a first user device and a second user device includes a first module receiving a first device action signal from the first user device having first device usage data associated therewith. The first module receives a second device action signal from second user device having second device usage data associated therewith and stores the storing the first device usage data and the second device usage data in the usage queue. A usage data collector is in communication with the first module and receives the first usage data and the second usage data to a usage data collector. A central data storage site receives the usage data from the usage data collector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium contains computer-executable instructions that, upon execution, result in the implementation of operations comprising: receiving from a third party data corresponding to a first collection of users, each user having first data associating the user to a first audience segment; acquiring or creating audience segment validation data using an audience segment validation method on the first collection of users; and transferring or presenting the audience segment validation data in a form of a collection of data or a report. The collection of data or the report may be transferred or presented to an advertiser, an advertising network, or an advertising agency. The audience segment validation method may comprise two or more methods selected from the group: querying a collection of user profile data, targeting users with queries, analyzing user behavioral data, and analyzing audience segment data from a plurality of data sources.

Abstract: Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment of an AMP system, a computer server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and provides a website for enabling uploading of media content, sorting the media content, and downloading the media content. Independent users are permitted to submit, edit, rate, and consume media content over a broadcast media channel or network. In some embodiments of the AMP system, content on the Internet is automatically searched and topics from the searched content are automatically identified. The topics are preferably indicative of currently relevant news or events and are indicative of a type of media content that will be requested for uploading from producers. The AMP system publishes the topics to the producers, receives and stores media content uploaded from the producers that relate to the respective topics, and enable users to select and download the media content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a first user initiating control of a media processor device, determining a startup media program according to one or more startup media preferences associated with the identified first user and one or more characteristics corresponding to the first user initiating control, and transmitting to a display device the startup media program derived from a media stream. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards modifying when to publish content to a channel for distribution based on monitored actions associated with previously published content. A plurality of publishing slots may be determined from a plurality of time slots. Each publishing slot may indicate a time to publish content to the channel. Content may be published to the channel at each of the plurality of publishing slots. User actions associated with the published content may be monitored. The plurality of publishing slots may be ranked based on these monitored actions. At least one of the plurality of publishing slots may be modified to a different time slot based on the rankings of the publishing slots. The publication of content at a publishing slot may be delayed based on a success of other content published at a previous publishing slot being above a threshold.

Abstract: A method of providing audience feedback for a program includes a communication forming tag patterns embedded in an audio or video format. The communication is formed by software on a viewer device that encodes a message signal. When a link to the program is activated by the software viewers may send messages by embedding into the program. The messages any take the form of audio, video or text, and can be viewed using the same software on devices of other users. The software may be an app, embedded in a web site, or may be incorporated into a stand-alone box or in a computer chip to be place in any device to perform the same task. A person controlling the program may employ a camera overlay program box and re-air the communications of viewers while the program is aired and placed these comments directly on-screen.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content that is based on a time-varying evaluation of the multimedia content. While a content is being presented on a first device, timing information identifying temporal locations of segments of the content within a content timeline are extracted. While the content is still being presented, a feedback received from the user is associated with the content using the timing information and transmitted to a database. The user then receives a response corresponding to feedback provided by a plurality of consumers of the multimedia content on a segment-by-segment basis.

Abstract: A system and method are described for delivering to a member of an audience supplemental information related to presented media content. Media content is associated with media metadata that identifies active content elements in the media content and supported intents associated with those content elements. A member of an audience may submit input related to an active content element. The audience input is compared to media metadata to determine whether supplemental information can be identified that would be appropriate to deliver to the audience member based on that person's input. In some implementations, audience input includes audio data of an audience's spoken input regarding the media content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides immediate audience interaction and participation with a movie while the movie is being shown to the audience, either in a public theater or at home. Theatre patrons are provided the option of responding to prompts on their handheld communication/computing devices to vote on upcoming pre-staged scene selections, thereby enabling majority voting audience participation to control a movie flow.

Abstract: A viewing behavior learning apparatus includes: a viewing history acquiring unit that acquires a viewing record that indicates an attribute of a program and start and end times during which a viewer viewed the program; a viewing history dividing unit that divides the viewing record every discretized time points that is discretized by a unit time; a viewing history replicating unit that discretizes a viewing time period denoted by the divided viewing records by interval shorter than the unit time to obtain discretized viewing time periods; a viewing behavior storage unit that builds a model of the viewing behavior by use of a Bayesian network having the viewing time period and the attribute as random variables and stores a conditional probability table of the Bayesian network; and a viewing behavior updating unit that updates the conditional probability table using the discretized viewing time periods.

Abstract: A system measures a frequency with which a user views a television program and identifies the television program as one of the user's favorite programs based on the measured frequency. The system automatically records, without intervention of the user, the one of the user's favorite programs.

Abstract: A method of detecting periodic activity patterns associated with the viewing of audio video content is described. The method includes: recording activity data in an activity log; suppressing the activity log one or more times to suppress non-relevant activity data thereby producing one or more sets of suppressed activity data; passing the one or more sets of suppressed activity data through a signal processing function to convert the one or more sets of suppressed activity data to one or more frequency responses; and analyzing the one or more frequency responses to detect the periodic activity patterns. Related apparatus and methods are also described.