A method for gaming assistance. Information relating to game plays of player for a gaming application is received at a back-end server. A current game context of a first game play of a first player is determined from the information. Historical expert game contexts of expert game plays of experts that have played the gaming application are determined from the information. An assistance query related to the first game play is received. The current game context of the first player is compared to the historical expert game contexts to determine at least one expert having a corresponding historical expert game context that matches the first game context. A first expert is assigned to the first player for obtaining assistance. A communication session is generated between a device of the first expert and a device of the first player to enable the first expert to render assistance to the first player.

In an example embodiment, a method of identifying an item depicted in an image is provided. In this method, the image depicting the item is accessed; in addition, other images and their item identifiers are also accessed. A match of the image with one of the other images is identified. With a match, the image is then associated with an item identifier of the matched image.

A client electronic device to provide custom functionality for video content playback. The client electronic device includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, causes the client electronic device to receive a streaming manifest file and a first auxiliary manifest file, where the streaming manifest file includes references to video segments of a video content, where the first auxiliary manifest file includes timed metadata associated with the video content, where the streaming manifest file and the first auxiliary manifest file refer to a same timeline, provide the streaming manifest file to a core playback module to play the video content according to the streaming manifest file, and provide custom functionality using the timed metadata included in the first auxiliary manifest file that replaces or augments functionality provided by the core playback module.

A client electronic device to provide custom functionality for video content playback. The client electronic device includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, causes the client electronic device to receive a streaming manifest file and a first auxiliary manifest file, where the streaming manifest file includes references to video segments of a video content, where the first auxiliary manifest file includes timed metadata associated with the video content, where the streaming manifest file and the first auxiliary manifest file refer to a same timeline, provide the streaming manifest file to a core playback module to play the video content according to the streaming manifest file, and provide custom functionality using the timed metadata included in the first auxiliary manifest file that replaces or augments functionality provided by the core playback module.

Systems and methods are presented herein for recording portions of a media asset relevant to recording criteria. A media application receives input indicating the recording criteria and identifying a first keyword. The media application accesses a data structure to identify a first node associated with the first keyword. The data structure includes the first node and a plurality of nodes connected to the first node via a plurality of paths. The media application receiving audio component data for a portion of the media asset extracts a term from the audio component data, and identifies a second node in the data structure that is associated with the extracted term. The media application calculates a path score for the portion of the media asset based on a path size in the data structure between the first node and the second node. When the score is high enough, the portion of the media asset is recorded.

There is provided a method for searching a plurality of information sources using a multimedia element, the method may include receiving at least one multimedia element; generating, by a signature generator, for the at least one multimedia element at least one signature that is unidirectional, and yields compression; generating at least one textual search query using the at least one signature; wherein the generating of the textual search query comprises: (a) searching for at least one matching stored signature that matches one or more of the at least one signature; and (b) using a mapping between stored signatures and textual search queries, selecting at least one textual search query mapped to at least one matching stored signature; searching the plurality of information sources using the at least one textual search query; and causing a display of search results retrieved from the plurality of information sources.

There is provided a method for searching a plurality of information sources using a multimedia element, the method may include receiving at least one multimedia element; generating, by a signature generator, for the at least one multimedia element at least one signature that is unidirectional, and yields compression; generating at least one textual search query using the at least one signature; wherein the generating of the textual search query comprises: (a) searching for at least one matching stored signature that matches one or more of the at least one signature; and (b) using a mapping between stored signatures and textual search queries, selecting at least one textual search query mapped to at least one matching stored signature; searching the plurality of information sources using the at least one textual search query; and causing a display of search results retrieved from the plurality of information sources.

A device with an identifier is described. The identifier includes a complete link for access to a digital playback platform of a multimedia file. The identifier is a readable identifier including a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver module, a QR code, or a barcode. Multimedia file configuration and multimedia file playback methods and systems on the digital playback platform are also described.

A remote control device for controlling devices in an environment can utilize an environment map and location information to accurately determine an intended device to provide control for multiple devices in an environment. The environment mapping can be performed using the remote control device including a plurality of sensors. A spatial map can be generated for an environment along with location information for controllable devices within the environment. The spatial map and location information can be stored on the remote control device. The mapping can allow the remote control device to quickly group devices or drag and drop content from one type of device to another type of device. The remote control device can perform search queries based on combinations of image and audio data in some examples.

A method includes receiving media content comprising audio data for distribution through content distribution platform that requires the media content to include video content, transforming the audio data into textual content, determining, based on a search of a searchable database, that the textual content of the audio data matches characteristics of visual data in the searchable database, integrating the visual data having the matched characteristics with the media content to create an augmented content stream in response to the determination that the textual content of the audio data matches the characteristics of the visual data, and distributing the augmented content stream through the content distribution platform that requires the media content to include video content.