Abstract: There is provided a node in a content distribution network, the node arranged to distribute content to a plurality of clients. The node comprises a client monitor and a quality module. The client monitor identifies how many clients are streaming the same content. The quality module is arranged to increase the streamed quality of content when a plurality of clients greater than a threshold value stream the same content.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate television viewing behavior data collected from a plurality of television set top boxes by using aggregation to detect an excess or a deficit in viewership for a group of television set top boxes. In some embodiments, a group of set top boxes can be associated with a particular television service provider, cable television head-end, or data warehouse. Additionally, some embodiments can clean television viewing behavior data by detecting and correcting aberrant viewership in a time series, e.g. based on a weekly or an approximately monthly frequency. In some embodiments, the aberrant viewership can be detected by calculating a minimum expected number of viewers for a day and comparing it to the actual number of households that reported viewers for that day.

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: Methods and apparatus for identification and characterization of latency in a content delivery network. In one embodiment, interaction of users with content is recorded via the collection of a plurality of tuning records; the latency is then utilize to adjust the timing on the tuning records to account for lapses in time for sending these from between entities of the network and the user devices, and for processing occurring at the devices as required. The latency is determined by taking into account an experimentally or manufacturer-derived device specific latency component, and a network latency component. The network latency component is determined in one variant by sending a message to the device from the network requesting a current system time (or other response). Once the timing of the tuning records is adjusted, these tuning records may be relied upon as being accurate representations of subscriber interaction with content on a second-by-second basis.

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 computer-implemented method for providing online advertising is provided. The method includes providing, by a video delivery module, online video content to a user and maintaining, by a tracking module, a content consumption counter tracking an amount of time the user has watched the video content. The method also includes preventing, by a blocking module, the user from controlling playback of the video content if the content consumption counter satisfies a time characteristic. The method further includes providing, by an advertisement delivery module, a portion of an advertisement section to the user during the preventing. The duration of the portion of the advertisement section is dependent on the time characteristic.

Abstract: An approach for providing feedback based on monitoring of channels at a customer premise is described. A digital signal representing a plurality of channels transported over a media broadcast network is received at a set-top box apparatus. A determination of whether one of the plurality of channels satisfies a predetermined criterion relating to performance of the media broadcast network is performed. A network feedback signal based on the determination is generated, at the set-top box apparatus, for transmission to a network monitoring node of the media broadcast network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing supervised learning to associate profiles in video audiences is provided. The method includes: receiving data providing an association of consumer profiles and video decoders to households within a network; recording zapping events (patterns) created by consumers; and associating zapping patterns of consumers with households. The step of associating further includes: collecting external data and converting a format of the external data into an internal format; converting zapping logs into different data models that can be used to provide set top box signatures; providing the set top box signatures; using the set top box signatures with a list of set top boxes and profiles to provide an association rule; and applying the association rule to the set top box signatures to determine a list of profiles of the consumer profiles associated with a specific set top box of the set top boxes.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user.

Abstract: A mechanism to evaluate the geographic popularity of geographically-located user-generated content is presented. A method to evaluate the geographic popularity of geographically-located user-generated content includes receiving a user-generated content item having metadata indicating a geographic location of the user-generated content item, determining geographic location metadata of each of a plurality of views of the content item, calculating a view geographic entropy of the content item by dividing the plurality of views across multiple geographic regions while taking into account the geographic location of the content item, and providing the calculated view geographic entropy of the content item for presentation in a visual display that is part of an analytical report of the content item.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining identified impressions that are detected from consumption data collected from a group of media processors where the identified impressions represent viewing of selected content and where the consumption data indicates channel tuning events at the group of media processors including changing of channels, applying a ridge regression analysis to the identified impressions to determine a predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot, and generating a media plan based on a ratio of an advertisement slot cost to the predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining viewership information are provided. A method of determining viewership information includes determining viewership information from multicast routing table data associated with one or more edge routers of a media content delivery service. Each edge router of the one or more edge routers is adapted to transmit media content streams to multiple devices via a first network. The method also includes sending data related to the viewership information to a requesting device via a second network.

Abstract: An independent auditing and ad service system that may be utilized in conjunction with a system for presenting marketing campaigns to audiences via a network of players located in public locations. Independent agents in the players monitor media content that is presented to audiences during marketing campaigns and generate independent agent playlogs that are provided to a content registry service. The content registry service compares the independent agent playlogs with playlogs that are provided by a network operator to validate the network-operator-generated playlogs. The independent agent playlogs may also be provided to an analytics service where they are used to analyze the performance of marketing campaigns. Based on the analyzed performance, the service may determine that the media content being presented to audiences via the media players should be changed. The independent agents may be instructed to implement recommended changes by modifying the media content being presented on the players.

Abstract: Power management methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for audience measurement meters are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises determining an activation state of a media presentation device, and controlling activation of an audience measurement meter based on the activation state of the media presentation device, the audience measurement meter to monitor the media presentation device when the activation state is an active state. Another example method disclosed herein comprises obtaining presentation device state data representing an activation state of a media presentation device to be monitored by an audience measurement meter, the presentation device state data including time information, and determining whether to fault audience measurement data reported by the audience measurement meter based on the presentation device state data and outage information determined from the audience measurement data.

Abstract: A system for and method of automatic optimizing quantitative business objectives of sellers (advertisers) with synergistic pricing, promotions and advertisements, while simultaneously minimizing expenditure and discovery and optimizing allocation of advertising channels that optimize such objectives.

Abstract: A set-top box includes a baseline record with information regarding the expected environment of the set-top box. The baseline record may be encrypted, and may include locational information. The set-top box compares the expected environment to an actual environment of the set-top box and attempts auto-reconciliation if the comparison indicates a discrepancy. In some implementations, auto-reconciliation includes performing a check of the components of the set-top box to identify improper performance. In some implementations, auto-reconciliation includes the enabling of missing entitlements or the disabling of extra entitlements. A computing device of a media content provider includes a golden source record with information establishing the expected environment for the set-top box. The media content provider may send updates for the baseline record when information in the golden source record changes.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to characterize households with media meter data.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for user experience based content consumption. The computer-implemented methods include, for example, receiving a request reflecting a content consumption of a content item. The computer-implemented methods may also include determining, using at least one processor, an alternative content consumption associated with an improved user experience than the requested content consumption as a function of historical experience data. In addition, the computer-implemented methods may also include outputting data associated with the alternative content consumption.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol television system includes a user profile agent, a keyword detection agent, and an information search agent. The user profile agent is in communication with a multimedia device, and generates a user profile based on information received from the multimedia device. The keyword detection agent is in communication with the user profile agent, and searches text associated with a multimedia video stream transmitted to the multimedia device for keywords associated with the user profile. The information search agent is in communication with the keyword detection agent, and connects to an information source associated with the keywords detected by the keyword detection agent, and provides additional information associated with the keywords to the multimedia device.

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: Disclosed herein is a transmission apparatus for transmitting AV (Audio/Video) content, including: an acquirer configured to acquire an estimated number of audience terminals indicative of an estimated number of reception apparatuses receiving the AV content; a computer configured, in conjugation with the AV content, to compute, on the basis of the estimated number of audience terminals, a validity probability of trigger information associated with control of an application program to be executed in the reception apparatus; a generator configured to generate the trigger signal including the computed validity probability; and a transmitter configured to transmit the generated trigger information with the AV content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rewinding a video to a point before the video was first viewed. Video transmitted by a media source is cached by a remote server. Upon a trick-play request for the video, the server generates a rewind stream that includes the video that was transmitted by the media source before the user started to view the video. Upon receiving the rewind stream, the user's equipment may cache the rewind stream in a rewind buffer and rewind or play from the rewind buffer. The server may also generate and transmit a forward stream of the video that the media source has not yet transmitted. The user's equipment may cache the forward stream in a forward buffer. To perform trick-play operations with the video, the user's equipment may migrate the playback of the video to the rewind and forward buffers and rewind or fast-forward the video from the buffers.

Abstract: A quality evaluation apparatus for evaluating quality of a picture transmitted from a radio base station apparatus to a terminal apparatus, the apparatus including: a perception quality estimation processing unit configured to estimate the quality of picture viewed at the terminal apparatus based on quality of a radio section between the radio base station apparatus and the terminal apparatus; and a quality evaluation processing unit configured to output an evaluation result evaluated the estimated quality of picture.

Abstract: Sensing interfaces associated with a home entertainment system are used to automate a system response to events which occur in a viewing area associated with the home entertainment system. Data derived from such sensing interfaces may also be used to enhance the response readiness of one or more system components. Still further, user presence data derived from such sensing interfaces may be used to capture and report user viewing habits and/or preferences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collection and processing of data relating to users of a content-delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network is a cable or satellite or HFCu network, and the apparatus includes an architecture for routinely harvesting, parsing, processing, and storing data relating to the activities of the users (e.g., subscribers) of the network. In one variant, at least portions of the data are anonymized to protect subscriber privacy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data. Offline and online audience measurement data may be compared and correlated to improve the quality of each data and source set. Positive correlations between the offline and online data sets related to a particular event may indicate demographic traits that are likely true, such that outliers may be removed from the set or considered at a reduced weight. Negative correlations may indicate that demographic information within a source set, such as the online measurement data, may be false or suspect.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collection and processing of data relating to users of a content-delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network is a cable or satellite or HFCu network, and the apparatus includes an architecture for routinely harvesting, parsing, processing, and storing data relating to the activities of the users (e.g., subscribers) of the network. In one variant, at least portions of the data are anonymized to protect subscriber privacy.

Abstract: A view history of a user viewing a program is generated. The view history record is used to generate a proxy rating of the program when the user does not assign a rating to the program. The proxy rating is used by a recommendation engine to generate recommendations.

Abstract: A system for logging the TV viewing activities at a household includes a TV messaging device at the household and a remote TV viewership measurement server communicatively coupled to the messaging device. The TV messaging device receives an infrared signal including a TV operation code from a remote control device within the household. The infrared signal is directed to a particular TV to perform a predefined operation. The TV messaging device generates a TV operation message including the TV operation code and a household identifier associated with the household and transmits the TV operation message to the TV viewership measurement server. Upon receipt of the TV operation message, the TV viewership measurement server tries to identify one of multiple TV devices within the household as being the target of the TV operation code and updates TV viewership data associated with the household in accordance with the TV operation code.

Abstract: A method for controlling the output of media content, particularly audio content, to a user in relation to an apparatus, such as a set-top-box, having an input, for receiving media content, and an output, for providing the media content to an output device such as a television or other display device. Media content is received at the input and then analysed using a media content recognition unit. The media content recognition unit undertakes the step of identifying portions of the received media content that contain undesired content, such as offensive language. The output of media content to a user is then controlled, based on any identified undesired content, to prevent the output of content when the identified undesired portions are to be output. A corresponding apparatus and computer program are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that measures audience engagement with a program based on the time a user spends viewing the program. A program's ability to retain viewers is referred to as the “stickiness” of the program. The viewership for a program is determined by the system and then compared to viewership of various other programs in order to assess the audience retention for the analyzed program as compared to the retention of the other programs. The system calculates a “stickiness index” for the program, which is a numerical representation of the analyzed program's stickiness as compared to the average of the other programs. The system may generate a report including the analyzed data and calculated stickiness index for advertisers, agencies, media sellers, or other parties that are interested in assessing viewership of the analyzed program.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a receiving device including, a receiver that receives AV content, a detector, an acquirer, a tentative reservation registering part, and a definitive reservation registering part.

Abstract: A user is given the ability to control the display of content items such as advertisements, by for example skipping over content items that are not of interest. Metadata tags associated with non-skipped viewings of content are stored and tracked. Subsequently, candidate content items are scored according to their metadata tags, giving higher scores to candidate content items associated with higher occurrences of non-skipped viewings. The higher-scoring candidate content items can then be favored over other candidate content items. Thus, based on the choices the user makes with respect to skipping or not skipping particular content items, inferences are made as to the user's level of interest in various subjects, and subsequent content items are delivered in a personalized manner to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture.

Abstract: The disclosed system provides enables controlling access to content, such as videos, based on authentication information provided by a user of the system. In one embodiment, after authenticating a user, the system provides a database of media, such as corporate training videos, the scope of which is determined based on the identity of the user. The system enables the user to view and provide feedback about videos, such as by indicating a rating of the video and/or providing comments about the video. The system also enables the content provider to specify searchable information for various videos, such as title, creation date, run time, or other appropriate information. The system enables the creator to specify certain metadata about content, to provide further information that can be searched by users of the system. The disclosed system may also enable users to share videos with other users with similar access rights.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating distribution of content are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method of facilitating demand-driven population and management of online content within a video-on-demand (VOD) service includes receiving trend information and a link reference at one or more input ports, the reference being at least indirectly indicative of a location at which the content is available, and obtaining and normalizing, by way of one or more processing devices, metadata pertaining to the content. The method further includes determining business rule information pertaining to the content based at least indirectly upon the trend information, content provider policy information, and the normalized metadata, via the processing device(s), and outputting via one or more output ports the business rule information for receipt by the VOD service, whereby availability and prioritization of the content at the VOD service is based at least in part upon the output business rule information.

Abstract: A method and arrangements at a multimedia distribution network for estimating a present user constellation of a household are suggested. A sequence of textual descriptors that are associated with a multimedia sequence that is presently provided to the household is monitored. By acquiring a set of parameters of a statistical model that is based on textual descriptors that have previously been provided to the household, and by estimating a present user constellation by correlating the sequence of textual descriptors with the parameters of the statistical model, the estimated information may be used for customization of content that is provided to the household.

Abstract: Techniques for calculating quality of user experience (QoE) scores for video streams as played on receiving devices are described herein. Prior to calculating a QoE score, a device receives a video of a display screen of a receiving device captured while the receiving device plays a video stream. The device also receives transmission metrics from at least one device engaged in the transmission of the video stream to the receiving device. The device then calculates the QoE score for that received video based at least in part on a reference video, the transmission metrics, and one or more QoE models. Additionally, prior to receiving the video or the transmission metrics, the device may automate the transmission of the reference video as the video stream from a sending device to the receiving device over at least one network emulator, including providing network impairment settings to the network emulator.

Abstract: There is provided according to some embodiments of the present invention methods, circuits, apparatuses, systems and associated computer executable code for providing viewer monitoring and analytics relating to broadcast or otherwise published content. A server communicating with mobile viewer appliances adapted to detect emission(s) from presentation device(s) and to convey information derived from the detection to the server.

Abstract: Portable multi-purpose audience measurement systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include executing media metering software downloaded onto a portable device. Such example methods also include halting execution of the media metering software in response to determining that the portable device is being used for a native purpose.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.

Abstract: A system, method, and wireless communication device that profiles a user thereof, or a user at a second wireless communication device in communication therewith. The wireless communication device gathers user data for a user thereof, or from a user at a second wireless communication device, and either directly generates, or has generated elsewhere, a user profile, such as a personality or psychological profile, or medical diagnosis of the user, and can display the user profile to the user and/or alter the wireless communication device functionality based upon the user profile. The gathered user data can be from a user interaction with the wireless communication device, from information available to the wireless communication device, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to identify, utilizing an ACR system, content in a presented program. An event category related to the identified content may be identified by the ACR-enabled connected device utilizing the ACR system. The ACR-enabled connected device may determine, utilizing the ACR system, whether to present an overlay associated with the event category, based on a user profile associated with the ACR-enabled connected device. The overlay for viewer interaction may be presented, based on the determination, by the ACR-enabled connected device utilizing the ACR system. The user profile may comprise information on categories of events that may be preferred by the viewer. The user profile may be determined based on input from the viewer. The user profile may also be determined based on viewing history and/or behavior associated with the ACR-enabled connected device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for managing content storage and selection activities. The method includes aggregating content from content providers and presenting the content to a content device. The method also includes monitoring consumption of storage space with respect to storage capacity in the content device, relocating content contained in the storage space of the content device when a predetermined condition is met, and providing access to relocated content. The relocation is operable for freeing up the storage space of the content device.

Abstract: A method to measure quality of experience of a video service. In the method of the invention said video service is an over-the-top video streaming provided to a user application under request by means of a network. It is characterised in that it comprises calculating a Key Performance Indicator, or KPI, from measurable network parameters of said network for each video provided by said video service, assigning a Key Quality Indicator, or KQI, to each KPI by means of analytical models and calculating a global KQI function of a set of KQIs.

Abstract: A system and method include tracking user behavior exhibited by interaction with a device, creating a preference profile as a function of the tracked user behavior, accessing the preference profile prior to populating the device, and using the preference profile to select an order of population of the device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, wirelessly receiving adjustment information from a mobile communication device, wirelessly receiving a request for video content from the mobile communication device, generating multiple versions of the video content, wirelessly transmitting a second version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device according to the adjustment of the access plan, and transmitting a first version to the mobile communication device for presentation on the display device and ceasing transmitting the second version responsive to a determination of an undesired condition associated with the presentation of the second version on the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining social media data associated with a plurality of end user devices of a plurality of users interacting with a social media network where the social media data includes user commentary at the social media network, determining first targeted advertising for delivery to first end user devices of a portion of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the social media data, and determining second targeted advertising for delivery during a target broadcast programming to a second end user device of a target user of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the user commentary, wherein the analysis includes identifying a comment context. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and methods to calculate ratings of television advertisements based on viewing data and to assess the effectiveness of the advertisements. In some embodiments, consumer viewing data is consolidated across a plurality of disparate channels through which content and advertisements are presented to viewers. Some of the channels may provide information directly to the system about which advertisements were presented to viewers. In some embodiments, the system may instead determine whether an advertisement was likely viewed based on scheduling data associated with the presentation of content and advertisements. The system may provide additional algorithms for rating advertisements based on the consolidated information. That is, the system may allow performance of advertisements to be compared against other advertisements across a desired population of viewers. Embodiments may further provide information for a graphical user interface to assess the ratings and results.

Abstract: A system, method, and wireless communication device that profiles a user thereof, or a user at a second wireless communication device in communication therewith. The wireless communication device gathers user data for a user thereof, or from a user at a second wireless communication device, and either directly generates, or has generated elsewhere, a user profile, such as a personality or psychological profile, or medical diagnosis of the user, and can display the user profile to the user and/or alter the wireless communication device functionality based upon the user profile. The gathered user data can be from physical user interaction with the wireless communication device, or from other equipment resident at the wireless communication device, such as a camera and medical diagnostic devices.