Systems and methods for automated local story generation and curation are described. In one example embodiment, a server computer receives content from client devices, and processes the content to identify content characteristics. Stories are then generated based on the characteristics of the received content, and the stories are communicated to client devices. In certain embodiments, selection at a client device of an individual piece of content within a story may further be used by the system to provide the client device with a sub-story that includes pieces of content sharing content characteristics with the characteristics of the selected image or video.

Systems and methods for facilitating contextual queries based on media samples automatically captured by a computing device are disclosed herein. A server receives from a computing device over a communication network, a media sample of a media asset automatically captured by the computing device. The server obtains contextual information corresponding to the captured media sample. The server stores the media sample in a memory indexed by the contextual information. The server receives, from the computing device over the communication network, a query that includes a criterion but lacks an identifier of the media asset. The server identifies the media sample in the memory by matching the query criterion to the contextual information. The server generates a reply to the query based on the identifying of the media sample and communicates the reply to the computing device over the communication network.

Systems and methods for facilitating contextual queries based on media samples automatically captured by a computing device are disclosed herein. A server receives from a computing device over a communication network, a media sample of a media asset automatically captured by the computing device. The server obtains contextual information corresponding to the captured media sample. The server stores the media sample in a memory indexed by the contextual information. The server receives, from the computing device over the communication network, a query that includes a criterion but lacks an identifier of the media asset. The server identifies the media sample in the memory by matching the query criterion to the contextual information. The server generates a reply to the query based on the identifying of the media sample and communicates the reply to the computing device over the communication network.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices are disclosed for improved concurrency of users of a shared virtual environment. One method including: transmitting, to each single player client of, chunks of world chunk data of a shared virtual environment; receiving, at one or more virtual environment servers from each single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, state data of each user of a respective single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, wherein the single player client of each user manages state data of the user within the one or more virtual environment servers; periodically monitoring, from each user of the single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, updated state data for the user of a respective single player client connected to the shared virtual environment; storing, for the shared virtual environment in a database connected to one or more virtual environment servers, the updated state data for each user of the single player client; and periodically transmitting, for each user of the single player client, the updated state data of other users of the single player client within a predetermined distance of the user of the single player client.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices are disclosed for improved concurrency of users of a shared virtual environment. One method including: transmitting, to each single player client of, chunks of world chunk data of a shared virtual environment; receiving, at one or more virtual environment servers from each single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, state data of each user of a respective single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, wherein the single player client of each user manages state data of the user within the one or more virtual environment servers; periodically monitoring, from each user of the single player client connected to the shared virtual environment, updated state data for the user of a respective single player client connected to the shared virtual environment; storing, for the shared virtual environment in a database connected to one or more virtual environment servers, the updated state data for each user of the single player client; and periodically transmitting, for each user of the single player client, the updated state data of other users of the single player client within a predetermined distance of the user of the single player client.

A system and method are provided for a pedestrian thoroughfare portable media projection kiosk. The method provides a portable kiosk chassis located in a pedestrian thoroughfare. A media projection subsystem attached to the kiosk projects a media message and creates a media enablement signal. The media message may be a visual display, an audio broadcast, or both. The method verifies that media has been projected in response to receiving a media enablement signal. Verification information is supplied that includes the media enablement signal, and the verification information is communicated to a server. The verification information may be communicated using a cellular telephone, an IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device, an IEEE 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) device, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, or in addition, the kiosk may provide a publically accessible cellular telephone booster, a WLAN access point (AP), WPAN AP, or combinations thereof.

A system and method are provided for a pedestrian thoroughfare portable media projection kiosk. The method provides a portable kiosk chassis located in a pedestrian thoroughfare. A media projection subsystem attached to the kiosk projects a media message and creates a media enablement signal. The media message may be a visual display, an audio broadcast, or both. The method verifies that media has been projected in response to receiving a media enablement signal. Verification information is supplied that includes the media enablement signal, and the verification information is communicated to a server. The verification information may be communicated using a cellular telephone, an IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device, an IEEE 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) device, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, or in addition, the kiosk may provide a publically accessible cellular telephone booster, a WLAN access point (AP), WPAN AP, or combinations thereof.

A method and system for selecting new interactive content titles for users is disclosed. A plurality of user profiles is stored in memory. Each user profile including one or more preferences and historic gameplay data associated with a user associated with the user profile. A request to select a new interactive content title for the user over a communication network from a client device associated with the user profile is received. At least one of a plurality of available interactive content titles that are not associated with the historic gameplay data is selected. The at least one interactive content titles is selected from a subset of the available interactive content titles that correspond to one or more of the preferences in the stored user profile of the user.

A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing social media content submitted for public accessibility via the social media platform supported by the map-based GUI. The GUI includes a map providing interactive location-based searching functionality in that selection of a target location by the user in the GUI, such as by tapping or clicking at the target location, triggers a search for social media content having geo-tag data indicating geographic locations within a geographical search area centered on the target location.

A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing social media content submitted for public accessibility via the social media platform supported by the map-based GUI. The GUI includes a map providing interactive location-based searching functionality in that selection of a target location by the user in the GUI, such as by tapping or clicking at the target location, triggers a search for social media content having geo-tag data indicating geographic locations within a geographical search area centered on the target location.