HULU LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150206062 | Topic Model Based Media Program Genome Generation - In one embodiment, a method defines information for a set of genomes where the set of genomes describe characteristics of media programs. The method also defines which genomes in the set of genomes correspond to which topics in a set of topics. Textual information for a plurality of media programs and the information are input into a model and the model is trained to determine a probability distribution of terms for the set of topics based on analyzing the textual information and the genome information. The method then outputs the trained model. The probability distribution of terms is usable to determine genomes for each of the plurality of media programs where a genome corresponds to a topic and is associated with a media program based on terms found in the textual information for the media program and the probability distribution of terms for the topic correspond to the genome. | 07-23-2015 |
20150134847 | DYNAMIC ADJUSTMENT TO MULTIPLE BITRATE ALGORITHM BASED ON BUFFER LENGTH - In one embodiment, a method determines thresholds for a multiple bitrate algorithm that adjusts which bitrates for a media program are requested. A first threshold is associated with a first buffer length and a first direction of adjustment and a second threshold is associated with a second buffer length greater than the first buffer length and a second direction of adjustment. The method then determines which threshold applies to a buffer length of a buffer buffering the media program. An adjustment to the multiple bitrate algorithm in the first direction or the second direction based on the threshold that applies where the adjustment in the first direction increases an aggressiveness used by the multiple bitrate algorithm to increase the bitrate requested and the adjustment in the second direction decreases the aggressiveness used by the multiple bitrate algorithm to increase the bitrate requested. | 05-14-2015 |
20150058120 | Multiple Precision Ad Targeting - In one embodiment, a method determines advertisement (ad) impressions previously determined for a site and respective predicted probabilities determined for the ad impressions. A mapping table is generated mapping predicted probabilities to respective precisions using seed data associated with the ad impressions. The method generates optimal options for using the first level and the second level for the segment using the mapping table. The optimal options include a first precision for the first level, a second precision for the second level, and a ratio of ad inventories allocated to the first level and the second level. Then the method selects one of the optimal options. The selected one of the optimal options includes parameters including a first threshold for the first level, a second threshold for the second level, and the ratio that are used to test whether a predicted probability for an ad impression is targeted to the first level or the second level. | 02-26-2015 |
20140365890 | Media Player Operating in Multiple Modes - In one embodiment, a method plays, on an interface, a media program in a media player operating in a first mode. A position change of the media player on the interface is determined while the media program is being played in the media player to cause the media player to move to an out of bounds position. The method detects the media player moving to the out of bounds position and upon detecting, automatically performs switching from the first mode to a second mode based on the media player moving to the out of bounds position where the second mode restricts movement of the media player. Also, the method transfers the media player to a new position that is not in the out of bounds position where the media player continues to play the media program in the new position. | 12-11-2014 |
20140214867 | Framework for Generating Programs to Process Beacons - In one embodiment, a method receives an object model determined from a specification for processing beacons. The method determines first information for a beacon object referenced in a basefact object to determine which beacon objects are applicable for the basefact object. Second information is determined for the structured data fields referenced in the basefact object to determine which output fields map to which structured data fields and third information is determined for a set of transformations for a set of input fields in the set of composite objects for the beacon to determine how to perform transformations to transform the set of input fields to the set of output fields. The method then generates instructions for a target program to process the beacons to transform the set of input fields to the set of output fields and map the set of output fields to the structured data fields. | 07-31-2014 |
20140181877 | Device Activation Using Encoded Representation - In one embodiment, a method activates a first device for delivering media to the first device. The method captures, by a second device, an encoded representation being output by the first device. The encoded representation is output by an application upon being provided on the first device where activation of the first device via a server is necessary for configuring a media program delivery service for a user on the first device. The method then determines information encoded in the encoded representation. The information includes a unique identifier (ID) for the first device. A user identifier is determined for the user and the method automatically communicates the unique ID and the user identifier to the server associated with the media program delivery service to allow the server to activate the first device for the media delivery service using the unique ID. | 06-26-2014 |
20140181019 | Automatic Updating of Aggregations for Aggregating Data - In one embodiment, a method receives a specification for aggregating data from processing of beacons. A beacon is associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and including unstructured data. The method then parses the specification to automatically generate an aggregation to aggregate structured data that has been converted from the unstructured data and stores dependency information for changes to the aggregation. State information is analyzed and the dependency information to determine when a change in the state information indicates that a change should be made to the aggregation. The method then dynamically changes the aggregation based on the analyzing to generate a new aggregation to aggregate different data based on changed information. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177733 | Keyframe Alignment for Encoding Video at Multiple Bitrates - In one embodiment, a method receives a frame type storage medium including frame type decisions made by a first encoding process to encode a video at a first bitrate to generate a first encoded video. While performing a second encoding process to encode the video at a second bitrate to generate a second encoded video, the method performs: retrieving information from the storage medium regarding a frame type decision made during the first encoding process; inserting a keyframe in the second encoded video based on the retrieved information from the storage medium, wherein the inserted keyframe in the second encoded video is aligned with a corresponding keyframe in the first encoded video; and continuing to retrieve information from the storage medium and inserting keyframes in the second encoded video. Keyframes in the first encoded video are aligned with keyframes in the second encoded video. | 06-26-2014 |
20140169761 | Scene Detection Using Weighting Function - In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing characteristics of a media program to label parts of the media program with a plurality of labels where parts of the media program that are determined to be substantially similar are labeled with a same label. The method then analyzes different partitionings of a sequence of the labels to determine partitions for the media program based on a weighting function that is configured to weight the different partitionings based on portions created from the partitions in the different partitionings. Then, a partitioning for the media program is outputted based on comparing the different partitionings of the sequence of labels using the weighting function. The outputted partitioning partitions the media program into a set of portions and provides points for insertion of information for a service in the media program. | 06-19-2014 |
20140156805 | Remote Automated Updates for an Application - In one embodiment, a method updates a media program streaming application for a media program streaming service. The method downloads the application, which includes a bootstrap application, through a distribution site. The bootstrap application receives a manifest from a remote server that lists remote core files. The bootstrap application determines if a core memory contains updateable core files corresponding to the remote core files. The method determines if an updateable core file is present in the core memory that matches a remote core file and loads the updateable core file from the core memory into a memory. If an updateable core file that matches the remote core file is not present in the core memory, the method requests the remote core file from the remote server and loading the received remote core file into the memory. The method then executes the core files in the memory without recompilation. | 06-05-2014 |
20140136336 | FLOOR PRICE MANAGEMENT IN AN ONLINE AUCTION SYSTEM FOR ADS TO BE PLACED IN A DIVERSIFIED CONTENT INVENTORY - An auction for ad inventory to be placed in streaming video content is characterized by a floor (minimum) price. A seller component receives, via a real time auction exchange system, a request for a set of ad impressions meeting specified criteria to be delivered by an online video streaming system, sometimes referred to as an “auction lot”. The seller component determines a floor price based on an inventory pressure calculated for the auction lot in response to receiving the request. The seller component determines the inventory pressure based on an inventory pressure determined for an inventory segment identified by the auction lot. The auction lot may then be entered into a bidding process including at least one bidder wherein bids less than the floor price are not accepted. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132833 | Combining Multiple Screens from Multiple Devices in Video Playback - In one embodiment, a method determines multiple screens of multiple mobile computing devices should be combined in playback of a video. A first mobile computing device receives the video and determines device characteristics based on a positioning of the first mobile computing device in relation to a second mobile computing device. Playback characteristics are determined based on the device characteristics. Then, the first mobile computing device renders a first portion of the video on a first screen based on the playback characteristics where a second portion of the video is rendered on a second screen of the second mobile computing device. | 05-15-2014 |
20140123173 | PACING AD SERVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE GRANULARITY - In a streaming video system with included video ad breaks, a pacing component allocates ads to particular ad breaks so as to pace the distribution of ads over a defined ad campaign period according to a pacing protocol using discrete time bins. A curve fitting algorithm may be used to provide increased or adjustable granularity of time bins used in the pacing protocol. | 05-01-2014 |
20140122511 | FRAMEWORK FOR GENERATING PROGRAMS TO PROCESS BEACONS - A method receives a specification for processing beacons. The beacons are associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and include unstructured data. The method parses the specification to determine an object model including objects determined from the specification where different specifications are parsed into a format of the object model. A generator is determined and each generator is configured to process the format of the object model to generate a different type of target program to process the beacons and multiple generators can process different specifications that are parsed into the format of the object model. The method runs the generator with the object model to generate a target program configured to identify the beacons for the specification, determine unstructured data in the beacons that were specified in the specification, and transform the unstructured data into structured data. | 05-01-2014 |
20140115631 | USER CONTROL OF AD SELECTION FOR SUBSEQUENT AD BREAK OF A STREAMING VIDEO - During or prior to streaming of video content to a client device, a server provides data configuring an interactive object on the client device. When activated by user input, the interactive object enables a user to select one or more video ads to be streamed to the client device during an upcoming ad break, during play of the streaming video. The interactive object enables the user to perform the selection without interrupting viewing of the video. | 04-24-2014 |
20140089998 | Dynamic Optimization of Video Content Distribution - In one embodiment, a method distributes files for assets to a plurality of content delivery networks (CDNs). The method determines a set of asset characteristics related to an asset of video content and analyzes the set of asset characteristics to determine a delivery classification for the asset. Different asset characteristics result in different delivery classifications. The method then automatically determines a set of content delivery networks to distribute files for the asset based on the delivery classification where assets with different delivery classifications have files delivered differently to sets of content delivery networks. | 03-27-2014 |
20140082660 | AD INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Estimating ad inventory in an online video streaming system accurately handles interdependencies among targeted attributes. The estimating includes determining a probability distribution of samples taken from electronic data records of ad impressions in an interactive online video streaming service, among a population comprising each different combination of targeted attributes recorded for each of the samples. In addition, the estimating may include populating an electronic data structure with data relating the each different combination of the targeted attributes to corresponding forecasted number of available impressions in a defined time period, based on the probability distribution and a forecasted total number of available impressions in the time period. Then, estimating the ad inventory is based on the electronic data structure and targeting attributes for an ad campaign, optionally including summing forecasted impressions for combinations of the targeted attributes that include all of the defined set of targeted attributes. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081767 | ESTIMATING UNIQUE IMPRESSIONS IN AN ONLINE VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Estimating a number of unique ad impressions in a streaming video system includes defining parameters of an ad campaign and a desired number of ad impressions for the campaign. A computer system determines a discrete probability distribution of video advertising segments per unit time per client device in a population of video advertising segments streamed to a plurality of client devices, based on historical data. The system randomly samples the probability distribution without replacement, based on the defined number of desired ad impressions. An enhanced binary search algorithm may be used for the sampling. Each sample of the probability distribution identifies a number of ads streamed to a different client device in the probability distribution. The system determines, based on the sampling, a number of unique client devices included the samples, thus obtaining an estimate of unique ad impressions for the defined ad campaign. | 03-20-2014 |
20140053187 | Providing Directed Advertising Based on User Preferences - A method determines user preference information for a user for a number of advertisements in a set of advertising blocks and a temporal distribution of the advertising blocks. When each advertising block in the set of advertising blocks occurs according to the temporal distribution during sending of a video program, the method determines a number of advertisements in the advertising block based on the user preference information, determines advertisements for the advertising block equal to the number of advertisements, and sends the determined advertisements during the advertising block. | 02-20-2014 |
20140047097 | Probabilistic Inventory System - A method stores entries including user activity information for users using computing devices and unique identifiers for computing devices as inventory information for the users. For an entry, a unique identifier for a computing device is determined based on network activity for the computing device being connected to a network and user activity information for the network activity includes user identification information determined from the computing device while the computing device is connected to the network. The method then determines multiple entries for the user including user identification information and a set of unique identifiers for a set of computing devices. The multiple entries for the user are compared against criteria to determine if the user should be assigned to a computing device based on the user activity of the user. The user is assigned to the computing device using the unique identifier if the comparison meets a threshold. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046974 | Job Dispatcher of Transcoding Jobs for Media Programs - In one embodiment, a method determines a job to dispatch for transcoding a source file. The source file is stored on a node in a distributed file system in which a plurality of nodes are storing a plurality of source files. The method then determines location information for the source file in the distributed file system where the location information identifies the node in which the source file is stored. Also, a node in the plurality of nodes is determined in which to dispatch the source file based on the location information for the source file. Then, the job is dispatched to the determined node such that transcoding of the source file is performed on the determined node. | 02-13-2014 |
20140044198 | Splicing of Video for Parallel Encoding - In one embodiment, a method receives a video at a partial encoder. The partial encoder determines characteristics of the video by performing a portion of an encoding process of the video. The method analyzes the characteristics of the video to determine splice points in the video to splice the video into multiple parts. The video is spliced into a plurality of parts based on the splice points and the plurality of parts are sent to a plurality of encoders. The plurality of encoders encode the plurality of parts substantially in parallel, the encoded plurality of parts are combined to form an encoded version of the video, and the partial encoder does not encode any of the encoded plurality of parts in the encoded version of the video. | 02-13-2014 |
20140040240 | Searching Media Program Databases - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for providing list of a plurality of media programs responsive to a user search query is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting an general search query from a user computer, identifying a synonym for the general search query, identifying a category for the general search query according to the identified synonym, performing a categorical search of a media program database using the identified synonym and the identified category to obtain a search result, and transmitting the search result to the user computer for presentation on a display communicatively coupled to the user computer. | 02-06-2014 |
20140040019 | PREDICTIVE VIDEO ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS - Effectiveness of video content is predicted using an automated or semi-automated analysis process operating on a computer. Video content is analyzed using image and audio data processing to assign a collection of attributes to a video ad. The collection of attributes is correlated to a historical effectiveness (e.g., click-thru rate) of past video ads in the same or similar attribute space to obtain predicted ad effectiveness. Differences between the collection of attributes and historical attribute spaces of greater effectiveness may also be determined and reported in the form of suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the ad. | 02-06-2014 |
20140024451 | CONFIGURING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A VIDEO SEGMENT BASED ON A GAME RESULT - Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment from a serving node is based on a result of an interactive game process executing on a client device. A configuration of advertisements in the streaming video is determined based on the game result. The configuration may include which advertisements are selected to play during ad slots to be included in the video segment, or a number of ad slots to be provided in the video segment. The serving node may configure the video segment with the advertisements selected based on the game result in the determined number of ad slots so that the selected advertisements are played during the ad slots when the video segment is streamed to the client device. If the video segment is configured with no ad slots based on the game result, then the video segment may be streamed to the client device without advertisements. | 01-23-2014 |
20140023341 | Annotating General Objects in Video - A method for annotating general objects contained in video content is provided. The method sends video data to a client device and receives a first annotation from the client device defining a boundary around a portion of a first frame of the video data. Then, the first annotation is tracked through multiple frames of the video content. Other annotations determined to be associated with annotation that match the first annotation within a threshold are determined where the other annotations are received from other client devices and located in the first frame or other frames from the first frame. The method combines the other annotations and the first annotation into an object track and associates a tag with the object track. The tag is input by at least one of the client devices. | 01-23-2014 |
20130340022 | Architecture for Simulation of Network Conditions for Video Delivery - In one embodiment, a method includes retrieving a playlist for a video stream of video content for a client. The playlist is for portions of video content for the video stream. A traffic shaping service determines a set of rules for the playlist for a set of portions in the plurality of portions where each rule is associated with a network condition. For each rule, the method performs: dynamically allocating a port and setting a network condition to apply to the port according to the rule. During playback of the video content, the traffic shaping service receives a request for a portion from the client and determines a port associated with the request for the portion. The method then sends a traffic shaped portion through the determined port where the network condition is applied to the traffic shaped portion based on the network condition being set on the port. | 12-19-2013 |
20130339500 | Simulation of Network Conditions for Video Delivery - In one embodiment, a method receives a request for a video stream of video content from a client. A playlist for the video stream is retrieved. The playlist is for a plurality of portions of video content. A traffic shaping service adjusts the playlist for a set of portions in the plurality of portions according to a set of rules where adjusting allows the service to perform traffic shaping for the set of portions. The method then sends the adjusted playlist to the client. During playback of the video content at the client, the traffic shaping service receives a request for a portion in the set of portions from the client using the adjusted playlist. The method determines a rule to apply to the portion where the rule is associated with a network condition and simulates the network condition for the portion to perform the traffic shaping service. | 12-19-2013 |
20130325879 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOMMENDING MEDIA PROGRAMS BASED ON CORRELATED USER FEEDBACK - A method and apparatus for recommending a media program of a set of media programs to a user of a set of users is disclosed. The method and apparatus computes a measure w | 12-05-2013 |
20130325819 | AUGMENTING METADATA USING USER ENTERED METADATA - In one embodiment, a method obtains metadata associated with a media program. The method receives user entered metadata from a first user for an object in a frame of the media program and compares the user entered metadata from the first user with user entered metadata from second users for the object. Then, the method verifies that the user entered metadata from the first user and the second users should be associated as augmenting metadata for the object in the media program based on the comparison. Upon verifying, the method performs: determining metadata storage including metadata for one or more other objects in the media program and storing the user entered metadata for the object in the media program in the metadata storage for the media program as the augmenting metadata. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322854 | Picture Overlay of Captions on Video Via Out of Band Communication - In one embodiment, a method includes storing a caption file including a set of visual representations of captions for a media program and a video file including video information for the media program. A server receives a request for the media program where the request is associated with a user device. The method determines the caption file and the video file for the media program based on the request. The server then sends visual representations of the captions from the caption file out of band with video information from the video file over a network to the user device. The user device is configured to overlay a visual representation of a caption over a portion of the video information. | 12-05-2013 |
20130294642 | AUGMENTING VIDEO WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION - A video segment including interactive links to information about an actor appearing in the segment may be prepared in an automatic or semi-automatic process. A computer may detect an actor's face appearing in a frame of digital video data by processing the video file with a facial detection algorithm. A user-selectable link may be generated and activated along a track of the face through multiple frames of the video data. The user-selectable link may include a data address for obtaining additional information about an actor identified with the face. The video data may be associated with the user-selectable link and stored in a computer memory. When later viewing the video segment via a media player, a user may select the link to obtain further information about the actor. | 11-07-2013 |
20130282916 | AUTOMATION FRAMEWORK TO REMOTELY CONTROL DEVICES AND PROCESS ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS - In one embodiment, a script starts automatic control of a remote device. The script issues a command to the device. The script causes a marker to be set at a position in an event buffer. The marker indicates events generated by the device should be stored in the event buffer. The action performed by the device results in events being asynchronously sent to the event buffer where the events are stored in the event buffer. The script initiates a wait for routine that waits for a target event to occur before execution of the script can continue and receives the events from the event buffer where the events are stored in the event buffer. The events are analyzed to determine if the target event occurred to allow the script to continue execution where the target event was stored in the event buffer before initiating the wait for routine. | 10-24-2013 |
20130263182 | CUSTOMIZING ADDITIONAL CONTENT PROVIDED WITH VIDEO ADVERTISEMENTS - A computer customizes additional content provided with video advertisements in a video segment, by identifying a video advertisement included in a segment of video content streaming to a client device, determining a parameter of the client device or of a user of the client device, and selecting customized advertising content from multiple predetermined advertising choices, based on the parameter and on an identity of the video advertisement. An interactive ad object may be provided at a time determined by timing of the video ad in a streaming video session. The interactive ad object may include a link to additional information related to the video ad. The link may be customized for a particular client device and video session, for example by linking to the customized advertising content at a remote server. | 10-03-2013 |
20130237318 | CONFIGURING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A VIDEO SEGMENT BASED ON A GAME RESULT - Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment from a serving node is based on a result of an interactive game process executing on a client device. A configuration of advertisements in the streaming video is determined based on the game result. The configuration may include which advertisements are selected to play during ad slots to be included in the video segment, or a number of ad slots to be provided in the video segment. The serving node may configure the video segment with the advertisements selected based on the game result in the determined number of ad slots so that the selected advertisements are played during the ad slots when the video segment is streamed to the client device. If the video segment is configured with no ad slots based on the game result, then the video segment may be streamed to the client device without advertisements. | 09-12-2013 |
20130223510 | Encoding Optimization Using Quality Level of Encoded Segments - In one embodiment, a method includes encoding a media file using a variable bitrate encoding algorithm based on a plurality of bitrate ranges to generate a set of encoded segments. For each bitrate range, an encoded segment for each segment of the media file is determined from the set of encoded segments based on a quality level of the encoded segment and each bitrate range. The method then identifies a playlist for each bitrate range including the encoded segment for each segment of the media file that was determined for each bitrate range. At least one playlist includes an encoded segment that was generated based on another bitrate range using the variable bitrate encoding algorithm. | 08-29-2013 |
20130091299 | Method and Apparatus for Navigating a Video Via a Transcript of Spoken Dialog - A method and apparatus for navigating a media program via a searchable transcript of the dialog of the media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, a textural transcript of the dialog is generated, wherein the textural transcript comprising a plurality of portions wherein each portion is associated with a segment of the media program, a command is accepted to display the transcript and in response to that command, user interface data is transmitted to the client computer for presentation in a user interface, wherein the user interface comprising a concurrently presented media program player and the textural transcript. | 04-11-2013 |
20130086607 | VIDEO AD SWAPPING IN A VIDEO STREAMING SYSTEM - Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment works in cooperation with a client device. Using a selection algorithm, a server selects a first number of default video advertisements for a video streaming session, and a second number of alternative video ads greater than the first number. The server provides identifiers for the alternative video advertisements and transmits the identifiers to the client device prior to a corresponding ad break in the streaming video. During or before streaming of one of the default video advertisements to the client device, the server detects a signal from the client device requesting that one of the alternative video advertisements be swapped for the one of the default video advertisements, interrupts streaming of the default video, and initiates streaming of the one of the alternative video advertisements, in response to detecting the signal. Corresponding operations may be performed by the client device. | 04-04-2013 |
20130046862 | Method and Apparatus for Callback Supplementation of Media Program Metadata - A method and apparatus for obtaining media program metadata is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving a media program callback message in a content delivery system from a client device displaying a webpage retrieved from a host server, the media program embedded in the retrieved webpage, the callback message comprising a callback address to the webpage, and storing the address as metadata associated with the media program in the database. | 02-21-2013 |
20130004138 | Commenting Correlated To Temporal Point Of Video Data - Commenting tied to user-selected times during play of audio/video content is enabled by a computer system. An apparatus detects a time that input of user comment data is received during playback of audio/video content on an electronic display device. The apparatus determines a temporal point relative to the playback of the audio/video content correlated to the user comment data, based on the time. The apparatus transmits the user comment data correlated to identifiers for the audio-video content and the temporal point to a computer server. The server may configure the video data for publishing on a website so that the comment data is displayed for a limited period based on the temporal point. Users may thereby conveniently record audio or textual comments that are output during subsequent play of the audio/video content, for sharing with friends and others. | 01-03-2013 |
20120304223 | AD SELECTION AND NEXT VIDEO RECOMMENDATION IN A VIDEO STREAMING SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE OF USER IDENTITY-BASED PARAMETER - In a streaming video system, a method determining a sequence of video programs playing on an interactive player device may include streaming a first video program including an ad break from a computer server to an interactive player device during a first streaming session. The method may further include automatically selecting a video advertisement or next program from a set of prospective video advertisements for play during the ad break or available programs, based at least in part on the first video program exclusive of any parameter based on user identity. The method may include providing the video advertisement to the interactive player device in the first streaming session at the ad break. Bases for selecting the next ad or program may include program popularity, rate of change in popularity, or other parameter. The method may be embodied in a computing apparatus or system. | 11-29-2012 |
20120209827 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Merged Media Program Metadata - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for generating a media program database having a plurality of media programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is comprises the steps of receiving first media program metadata from a first source, searching the Internet to find second media program metadata from a second source distinct from the first source, determining if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, merging the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, and storing the merged first media program metadata and second media program metadata in the media program database. | 08-16-2012 |
20120191692 | SEMANTIC MATCHING BY CONTENT ANALYSIS - A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide media content. A web page context for a web page is determined and stored in a database. One or more media content files are analyzed to extract information that is stored in the database. The information is compared to the web page context. A matching media content file is determined from the one of the one or more media content files that matches the web page context based on the comparison. The matching media content file is then provided (e.g., to an internet portal web site). | 07-26-2012 |
20120155553 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HYBRID TRANSCODING OF A MEDIA PROGRAM - A method and apparatus for encoding a source media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of transcoding the source media program to produce a constant video quality transcoded version of the media program, determining if a portion of constant video quality version of the transcoded media program fails to satisfy a constraint, if the portion of the transcoded media program fails to satisfy the constraint, adjusting at least one transcoding parameter of a set of transcoding parameters, transcoding the portion of the source media program according to the adjusted at least one transcoding parameter to produce a constant bit rate version of the portion of the transcoded media program, and substituting the constant bit rate version of the portion of the transcoded media program for the constant video quality portion of the transcoded media program. | 06-21-2012 |
20120117074 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING MEDIA PROGRAM DATABASES - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for providing list of a plurality of media programs responsive to a user search query is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting an general search query from a user computer, identifying a synonym for the general search query, identifying a category for the general search query according to the identified synonym, performing a categorical search of a media program database using the identified synonym and the identified category to obtain a search result, and transmitting the search result to the user computer for presentation on a display communicatively coupled to the user computer. | 05-10-2012 |
20120110620 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER SELECTION OF ADVERTISING COMBINATIONS - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to control the presentation of advertisements to select prefacing advertisements in lieu of more time consuming or more numerous intervening advertisements presented during the media program. | 05-03-2012 |
20120110619 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING USER INFORMATION TO IMPROVE ADVERTISING EXPERIENCE - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to manage the provision of user information such as surveys and advertisement feedback to the media program provider to improve the advertising experience. | 05-03-2012 |
20120110618 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DIRECTED ADVERTISING BASED ON USER PREFERENCES - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to control the presentation of advertisements. | 05-03-2012 |
20120110616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING USER CONTROL OF ADVERTISING BREAKS ASSOCIATED WITH A MEDIA PROGRAM - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for presenting an advertisement for playback in conjunction with a streamed media program are described. The method permits the user to control advertising breaks and in particular, the timing of advertising breaks associated with the media program. | 05-03-2012 |
20120110615 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERMITTING USER INTERRUPTION OF AN ADVERTISEMENT AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATE ADVERTISEMENT VERSION - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to interrupt the playback of the advertisement and continue with the playback of the media program with no further advertisements, or to interrupt the playback of the advertisement to substitute a different version of the advertisement. | 05-03-2012 |
20120096488 | PROCESSING WORKFLOW FOR RECOMMENDING MEDIA PROGRAMS - A processing workflow method, system, and computer program product provide the ability; to recommend alternative programming during playback of a source media program. A media program player plays the source media program to a first viewer and provides information regarding the first viewer to a recommendation engine. The recommendation engine calculates and sends the media player a list of recommended media program candidates (including identifications of the candidates) based on the information. Prior to reaching an advertising break in the source media program, the media player transmits a request (including the identifications) for an advertisement to an advertising server and in response, receives an advertisement that is played to the first viewer during the advertising break. | 04-19-2012 |
20120096487 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOMMENDING MEDIA PROGRAMS - A method, system, and computer program product provide the ability to recommend, to a first viewer, alternative programming during playback of a first media program. The first media program is played. A second media program of potential interest to the user is identified. During an advertising break, an interface is presented to the user that identifies the second media program. An indication of interest in the second media program is received from the user. If the indication indicates that the user is interested in the second media program, a reference to the second media program is saved as a viewer recommendation for later playback. If not interested, additional input may be received from the user indicating why the user is not interested. | 04-19-2012 |
20120096086 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOMMENDING MEDIA PROGRAMS BASED ON CORRELATED USER FEEDBACK - A method and apparatus for recommending a media program of a set of media programs to a user of a set of users is disclosed. The method and apparatus computes a measure w | 04-19-2012 |
20120093482 | BOOKMARKING MEDIA PROGRAMS FOR SUBSEQUENT VIEWING - A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product provide the ability to bookmark a media program for subsequent viewing. A first interface is displayed and identifies a first media program. Via the first interface, a user requests that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of maintained bookmarks. The list of bookmarks is displayed. A user selects one of the bookmarks from the list and in response, the first media program is displayed to the first viewer. | 04-19-2012 |
20120072286 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A USER-EDITABLE PLAYLIST OF ADVERTISEMENTS - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to access, define, edit, and control a playlist of advertisements that may be played with selected media programs, a playlist of media programs, or all media programs played to the user. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072272 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAVING OR BOOKMARKING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR LATER VIEWING - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to save advertisements for later viewing. | 03-22-2012 |
20120060104 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHARING VIEWING INFORMATION - A method and apparatus for sharing viewing information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an designation of a second user from the first user; and transmitting the first user viewing information to the designated second user. The shared viewing information may comprise the identity of a currently viewed media program, a list of scheduled media program viewings, or the media program itself. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059951 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE BIT RATE SWITCHING - A method and apparatus for adaptively receiving media streams of different bit rates is disclosed. Data describing the variability of the bit rate of different versions of a media program is transmitted to the media player, and used by the media player to select the appropriate version for reception over the communication channel. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059946 | BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION WITH MODIFIED SEEK FUNCTION - A computer-implemented method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to stream media content to multiple users. A first stream of/for the media content is streamed from a first location in the media content to a first user. A request is received from the first user to seek to a seek location (e.g., forward or backward) in the media content. A second location in the media content compatible with the seek location is determined. The second location is based on a second stream being streamed to one or more second users. The second stream is then streamed to the first user and the second user. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059847 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALLBACK SUPPLEMENTATION OF MEDIA PROGRAM METADATA - A method and apparatus for obtaining media program metadata is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving a media program callback message in a content delivery system from a client device displaying a webpage retrieved from a host server, the media program embedded in the retrieved webpage, the callback message comprising a callback address to the webpage, and storing the address as metadata associated with the media program in the database. | 03-08-2012 |
20110320945 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTUITIVE NAVIGATION OF A MEDIA PROGRAM - A jog control for navigating a media program having a plurality of frames and a method for using the navigation control is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the control comprises a radial control at one of a plurality of user-selectable radial distances from a center of the jog control, the radial distance indicative of a jog control scale factor, wherein selection of the radial control selects and fixes the jog control scale factor until the control area is unselected, and wherein rotation of the selected radial control about a center of the jog control commands navigation through the plurality of media program frames at a rate determined by the selected jog control scale factor and an angular rate of the selected radial control about the center of the jog control. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320628 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GEOFILTERING BY CONTENT - Methods, apparatuses, articles of manufacture, and memory structures for selective delivery of content based on geolocation are disclosed. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320626 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING PAUSED PLAYBACK ACROSS PLATFORMS - A method and apparatus for resuming playback of a media program, the playback initiated on a first device and resumed on a second device is disclosed. The method does not rely on additional messages transmitted from the playback devices, but rather on server side monitoring of the transmission of the media program. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320287 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING STREAMING MEDIA PROGRAMS AND TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS COMPATIBLY WITH HTTP LIVE STREAMING - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. Different versions of a media program and advertisements are generated and segmented, and transmitted to a media player individually, allowing different advertisements to be selected for presentation to users according to user demographics and other factors. | 12-29-2011 |
20110295683 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID AND SCALEABLE DIRECTED ADVERTISTING SERVICE - A method and apparatus for selecting a subset of advertisements complying with an advertisement request from a set of advertisements is disclosed. Advertisements rules are specified according to a logical semantic simplifying search combinatorials yet allowing for flexible specification of advertising rules, and permitting significant precomputation of advertising rules to permit rapid identification of advertisements complying with advertisement requests. In one embodiment, advertisement rules and requests are represented as easily manipulable and computable bit arrays. | 12-01-2011 |
20110179357 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR THIRD PARTY WEBSITES - A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing supplemental video content for third party websites is disclosed. In one embodiment, coded instructions are transmitted from a content enhancement server to a host server, for incorporation into the webpage source code. The host server is controlled by a first entity and the content enhancement server is controlled by a second entity commercially distinct from the first entity. Keywords are obtained by executing of the coded instructions in the webpage received in the client computer from the host server to send the address of the requested webpage to the content enhancement server, which generates supplemental substantive video content information for transmission to the client. | 07-21-2011 |
20110179010 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR THIRD PARTY WEBSITES - A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing supplemental video content for third party websites is disclosed. In one embodiment, coded instructions are transmitted from a content enhancement server to a host server, for incorporation into the webpage source code. The host server is controlled by a first entity and the content enhancement server is controlled by a second entity commercially distinct from the first entity. Keywords are generated by execution of the coded instructions in the webpage received in the client computer from the host server, and the keywords are sent to a content enhancement server, which generates supplemental substantive video content information for transmission to the client. | 07-21-2011 |
20110145726 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NAVIGATING A MEDIA PROGRAM VIA A HISTOGRAM OF POPULAR SEGMENTS - A method and apparatus for navigating a media program is disclosed. Viewing data for segments of the media program are monitored and used to compile statistics that are presented to the user in a histogram, so that popular portions of the media program can be identified and navigated to. One embodiment includes a searchable transcript of the media program that is synchronized with the histogram. | 06-16-2011 |
20110145428 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NAVIGATING A MEDIA PROGRAM VIA A TRANSCRIPT OF MEDIA PROGRAM DIALOG - A method and apparatus for navigating a media program via a searchable transcript of the dialog of the media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, a textural transcript of the dialog is generated, wherein the textural transcript comprising a plurality of portions wherein each portion is associated with a segment of the media program, a command is accepted to display the transcript and in response to that command, user interface data is transmitted to the client computer for presentation in a user interface, wherein the user interface comprising a concurrently presented media program player and the textural transcript. | 06-16-2011 |
20110131166 | FUZZY USERS' ATTRIBUTES PREDICTION BASED ON USERS' BEHAVIORS - A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to predict and utilize a user's attributes. A sample user behavior and a sample user attribute are collected. A model is trained based on the sample user behavior and sample user attribute. Using the model, a probability of a predicted user attribute based on the sample user behavior is predicted. Using the model and the probability, the predicted user attribute is fuzzily determined based on a real user behavior. The predicted user attribute is used to improve a user's experience. | 06-02-2011 |
20100332527 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED METADATA - A method and apparatus for providing community based metadata is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of detecting an object in a frame of media program, transmitting first data comprising the frame of the media program having the detected object to display device for presentation to a user, receiving second data comprising user entered metadata associated with the identified object, tracking the object across proximate frames of the media program, associating the entered metadata with the object in at least one of the proximate frames of the media program, and storing the associated entered metadata. | 12-30-2010 |
20100303440 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PLAYING A MEDIA PROGRAM AND AN ARBITRARILY CHOSEN SEEK PREVIEW FRAME - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for playing a media program and providing a preview frame of the media program in response to a seek command is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a seek command in the user computer; generating a seek request from the seek command, the seek request including information identifying an arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame associated with the media program; retrieving the arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame; and rendering the received arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame in the playback component of the MPP. | 12-02-2010 |
20100287474 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING A SEARCH UTILITY IN AN EMBEDDED VIDEO - A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing advertisements into a streamed media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of transmitting a webpage to a user computer, wherein the webpage includes instructions comprising instructions for embedding a media program player in the webpage, wherein the embedded media program player comprises an embedded search utility for accepting a textual user query, receiving a search query from the user computer in a media server, the search query entered into the embedded search utility, generating search results responsive to the user search query, transmitting the search results to the media program player embedded in the webpage, rendering the search results using the media program player; and displaying the rendered search results to the user. | 11-11-2010 |
20100211584 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE HAVING SEARCH PARAMETER AWARE THUMBNAILS - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for presenting a program guide for a video-on-demand system describing a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value; searching the media program database for the search value, the media program database having first metadata associated with a first individual video frame of the media program; and providing the program guide comprising a thumbnail depicting the first individual video frame of the media program associated with the first metadata to the user if the first metadata includes the search value. | 08-19-2010 |
20100185646 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING MEDIA PROGRAM DATABASES - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for providing list of a plurality of media programs responsive to a user search query is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting an general search query from a user computer, identifying a synonym for the general search query, identifying a category for the general search query according to the identified synonym, performing a categorical search of a media program database using the identified synonym and the identified category to obtain a search result, and transmitting the search result to the user computer for presentation on a display communicatively coupled to the user computer. | 07-22-2010 |
20100169369 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MERGED MEDIA PROGRAM METADATA - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for generating a media program database having a plurality of media programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is comprises the steps of receiving first media program metadata from a first source, searching the Internet to find second media program metadata from a second source distinct from the first source, determining if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, merging the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, and storing the merged first media program metadata and second media program metadata in the media program database. | 07-01-2010 |
20100107126 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THUMBNAIL SELECTION AND EDITING - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for producing one or more thumbnails from a media program comprising video data having a plurality of sequenced images. In an illustrative embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a command to scan the video data to identify a candidate video frame for the thumbnail, accepting a command to select the candidate video frame for the thumbnail, automatically generating a set of candidate thumbnails, the set of candidate thumbnails comprising the selected candidate video frame and video frames temporally proximate the selected candidate video frame, presenting the set of candidate thumbnails for selection, and accepting a selection of one of the candidate thumbnails as the selected thumbnail. | 04-29-2010 |
20100077095 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING VIEWER SURVEY DATA AND FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR SAME - To address the requirements described above, a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer. The method permits the user to provide survey responses in exchange for viewing a media program with fewer advertisement, and permits the user to manage the survey responses. | 03-25-2010 |