Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080306807 | Interest profiles for audio and/or video streams - A user interest profile, which indicates a portion-varying level of user interest toward a first streaming media item, is determined. The user interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings inputted by a user for a plurality of respective portions of the first streaming media item. A second streaming media item is recommended to the user based on the user interest profile. | 12-11-2008 |
20090007200 | System and method of providing video content commentary - A method of providing video content commentary is disclosed that includes sending video content to a first set-top box device at a first time, where the first set-top box device is associated with a first subscriber. The method also includes receiving data corresponding to a comment submitted by the first subscriber. The comment relates to a particular portion of the video content. Further, the method includes sending the video content to a second set-top box device at a second time, where the second set-top box device is associated with a second subscriber. The video content sent to the second set-top box device includes a graphical representation of the comment. | 01-01-2009 |
20090172098 | Automatic rating system using background audio cues - Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein. | 07-02-2009 |
20090210229 | Processing Received Voice Messages - A voice message processing system shortens received voice messages to reduce the time a user must spend in reviewing the user's voice messages. In some embodiments, a data file associated with a caller is created and updated with words and associated audio files that may be used to replace longer words or phrases in future voice messages from the caller. A user may manually configure preferences to aggressively shorten messages in some embodiments. A speech synthesizer may be employed to replace text in messages when sufficient audio files are not stored to provide sufficient processing of messages. An audible indicator may be played with a revised message to allow a user to play back at least a portion of the original, received message without the substituted portions. Such systems provide a user the opportunity to review messages in a reduced time. | 08-20-2009 |
20090276802 | AVATARS IN SOCIAL INTERACTIVE TELEVISION - Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276820 | DYNAMIC SYNCHRONIZATION OF MULTIPLE MEDIA STREAMS - A disclosed method for synchronizing different streams of a multimedia content program includes providing the multimedia content program to a first viewer via a first multimedia stream in response to receiving a first request to view the multimedia content program from the first viewer and providing the multimedia content program to a second viewer via a second multimedia stream in response to a second request from the second viewer. The method includes determining a temporal or synchronization difference that indicates a temporal relationship between the first and second streams. A timing of at least one of the streams is altered to reduce the synchronization difference. When the synchronization difference drops below a specified threshold, the multimedia content program may be provided to the first and second viewers via a multimedia stream that is common to the first and second viewers. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276821 | DYNAMIC SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDIA STREAMS WITHIN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR. | 11-05-2009 |
20090319884 | ANNOTATION BASED NAVIGATION OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A disclosed service for enabling enhanced navigation of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a user to access annotation data associated with the program. The annotation data is indicative of a plurality of chronologically ordered annotations generated by one or more viewers of the program. The chronological positioning of an annotation within the program is indicative of the portion of the program being watched when the annotation was created. In other words, the annotations occur at locations in the program when they are created. If a first user creates a first annotation at the seven minute mark of a program, a second user, who watches the program while accessing the stored annotation data, will see the first user's annotation at the seven minute mark of the program. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319885 | COLLABORATIVE ANNOTATION OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A method for collaborative annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a program annotation, enabling the first user to store annotation data, and enabling a second user to access the annotation data. The second user may navigate the program using the annotation and/or view the annotation while viewing the program. The first user may create the annotation while viewing the program, for example, by asserting an annotation button on a remote control device. The annotation may include the frame that was displayed when the user created the annotation, text, audio, an image, or video selected by the viewer. The annotations include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the annotation within the program. The annotations may include “rating annotations” indicating the author's subjective rating of a portion of the program that is in chronological proximity to the annotation's chronological location. | 12-24-2009 |
20090328122 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING MEDIA PROGRAMS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 12-31-2009 |
20100070878 | PROVIDING SKETCH ANNOTATIONS WITH MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS - A method for collaborative sketch annotating of a program of multimedia content includes enabling a first user to create a sketch annotation, enabling the first user to store sketch annotation data related to the sketch annotation, and enabling a second user to access the sketch annotation. The second user may navigate the program using the sketch annotation and/or an indication of the sketch annotation. The first user may create the sketch annotation while viewing the program, for example, and the program may be paused for adding the sketch annotation to one or more paused frames. The sketch annotations may include chronological information indicative of a chronological location of the sketch annotation within the program. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070987 | MINING VIEWER RESPONSES TO MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - Viewers of a multimedia program are monitored to detect responses. Time data is stored with the responses and compared to responses from other viewers at the same time in the multimedia program. A viewer type is determined based on the responses. Further multimedia programs may be offered to the viewer based on the viewer type. Transducers and sensors placed within a viewing area may include, without limitation, audio sensors, video sensors, motion sensors, subdermal sensors, and biometric sensors. | 03-18-2010 |
20100071000 | GRAPHICAL ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - Disclosed systems and methods present a graphics based electronic programming guide (EPG) that organizes available content in radial fashion on a display. Which content appears on a screen shot of the EPG may be determined using rating data, user preferences or collaborative filtering. Through collaborative filtering, disclosed embodiments may predict which programs a user may like according to group member ratings. Some disclosed EPGs include a mosaic with graphical indications of an overall rating and graphical indications of which of a plurality of characteristics (e.g., genres) apply to multimedia programs. | 03-18-2010 |
20100235491 | MEDIA DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a recipient client device having a controller operable to receive and store a media object from an originating device, track locations where the media object has been since the media object has been stored in the recipient client device, track identifiers associated with a device or a user that has accessed the media object at the locations, and track and store annotations about the media object by the device or the user that accessed the media object. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100287236 | Collective asynchronous media review - A system and method for sharing annotations corresponding to media content among a plurality of members of a group over a communications network. The system generally includes at least one server coupled to the communications network and configured for receiving at least one annotation from a first group member corresponding to media content from the communications network; adding the at least one annotation to a database; accessing a list of members of the group, each member of the group having a user profile stored in memory; and automatically sending a notification to at least a second member of the group upon receipt of each annotation. The annotation comprises annotation content and a temporal identifier that identifies a segment of the media content to which the annotation corresponds, and the at least one server is configured for sending the annotation to at least the second group member and optionally a media stream including at least the segment of the media content with the annotation. | 11-11-2010 |
20110035683 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUS, COLLABORATIVE MEDIA CONSUMPTION - In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for synchronous, collaborative media consumption. In one embodiment, a method for providing media to a plurality of users includes delivering synchronously the media to a plurality of devices operated by the plurality of users via a communications channel and enabling a substantially real-time interaction among the plurality of users on the communications channel while delivering the media. | 02-10-2011 |
20110145427 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT USING A MOBILE DEVICE - A method and an apparatus for providing media content using a mobile device as a media server. For example, the method discovers at least one target mobile device, and determines whether the at least one target mobile device is capable of supporting wireless streaming media. The method streams the media content to the at least one target mobile device using the mobile device if the at least one target mobile device is determined to be capable of supporting wireless streaming media. | 06-16-2011 |
20110225603 | Avatars in Social Interactive Television - Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. | 09-15-2011 |
20120075312 | Avatars in Social Interactive Television - Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. | 03-29-2012 |
20120089437 | Interest Profiles for Audio and/or Video Streams - A method includes receiving at least one criterion to identify at least one media item. The method includes determining one or more media items that satisfy the at least one criterion. The method includes determining a group interest profile for each of the one or more media items. A particular group interest profile indicates a portion-varying level of group interest toward the at least one media item. The particular group interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings input by a plurality of members of a group for a plurality of portions of the at least one media item. The method includes determining a plurality of high-interest portions of the at least one media item based on the plurality of group interest profiles. The method also includes creating a high-interest media item that combines the plurality of high-interest portions. | 04-12-2012 |
20130057556 | Avatars in Social Interactive Television - Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. | 03-07-2013 |
20130138743 | Interest Profiles for Audio and/or Video Streams - A method includes determining, at a processor, a difference between a first user interest profile of a first user and a second user interest profile of a second user. The difference is associated with a portion of a first streaming media item. The method further includes transmitting, to a device associated with a third user interest profile of a third user, a first indication associated with the first streaming media item based on the difference. The first user, the second user, and the third user are distinct users | 05-30-2013 |
20130142363 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING DATA THROUGH A HUMAN BODY - An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature. | 06-06-2013 |
20140033254 | DYNAMIC SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDIA STREAMS WITHIN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR. | 01-30-2014 |
20140149869 | AUTOMATIC RATING SYSTEM USING BACKGROUND AUDIO CUES - Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein. | 05-29-2014 |
20140237527 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING MEDIA PROGRAMS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to collect data indicative of temporal actions initiated by a group of users during presenting a media program. The data indicative of the temporal actions are collected in a collective metadata archive. Portions of the media program are identified based on metadata for which a number of occurrences of the temporal actions exceeds a threshold number of occurrences. A compacted presentation of the portions of the media program is prepared based on the metadata. The compacted presentation includes the portions of the media program arranged consecutively. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 08-21-2014 |
20150033278 | DYNAMIC SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDIA STREAMS WITHIN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR. | 01-29-2015 |