A method, an apparatus and a computer program product for evaluating demographics of viewers of live-streamed videos provided to an audience over the Internet via live-streaming platforms. A viewer in the live-streaming platform is identified using a handle defined by a textual string. The textual string is analyzed to estimate demographic information of the viewer, by extracting a sub-portion of the textual string that excludes at least a second portion of the textual string and estimating demographic information of the viewer based on the sub-portion of textual string using at least one list that includes the sub-portion of the textual string.

A networked system comprises a main controller that allows users to act as customers, promoters or merchants of smart articles that are displayed by promoters who have purchased these articles from the merchants. The customer uses a controller device to access data from the smart article by capturing an identifying marker on the article and transmitting the foregoing data to the main controller which places the customer in communication with a merchant controller associated with the merchant from whom the promoter purchased the article. The merchant can thus provide data regarding the article to the customer via the main controller and depending on how the customer acts, the merchant can allocate a reward to the promoter via a promoter controller associated therewith.

A networked system comprises a main controller that allows users to act as customers, promoters or merchants of smart articles that are displayed by promoters who have purchased these articles from the merchants. The customer uses a controller device to access data from the smart article by capturing an identifying marker on the article and transmitting the foregoing data to the main controller which places the customer in communication with a merchant controller associated with the merchant from whom the promoter purchased the article. The merchant can thus provide data regarding the article to the customer via the main controller and depending on how the customer acts, the merchant can allocate a reward to the promoter via a promoter controller associated therewith.

One example method for virtual expo booth previews includes joining a virtual expo hosted by a video conference provider, the virtual expo including a plurality of virtual expo booths; presenting a graphical representation of the virtual expo and one or more virtual expo booths of the plurality of virtual expo booths; receiving an input indicating a first expo booth of the plurality of virtual expo booths; receiving, from the video conference provider, one or more multimedia streams associated with the first virtual expo booth; and presenting the one or more multimedia streams

A method includes accessing map data of an area of a real environment, the map data comprising three-dimensional feature descriptors describing features visible in the real environment. A plurality of map packages are generated based on the map data, wherein each of the map packages (1) corresponds to a two-dimensional sub-area within the area of the real environment, and (2) comprises a subset of the three-dimensional feature descriptors describing features visible in the sub-area. A first sequence of the plurality of map packages are broadcast through one or more base stations, wherein the first sequence is based on the two-dimensional sub-area of each of the map packages, wherein each of the map packages is configured to be received and used by an artificial-reality device to determine a pose of the artificial-reality device in the associated sub-area based on the associated subset of the three-dimensional feature descriptors.

Provided are methods and systems for suggesting an enhanced multimodal interaction. The method for suggesting at least one modality of interaction, includes: identifying, by an electronic device, initiation of an interaction by a user with a first device using a first modality; detecting, by the electronic device, an intent of the user and a state of the user based on the identified initiated interaction; determining, by the electronic device, at least one of a second modality and at least one second device, to continue the initiated interaction, based on the detected intent of the user and the detected state of the user; and providing, by the electronic device, a suggestion to the user to continue the interaction with the first device using the determined second modality, by indicating the second modality on the first device or the at least one second device.

The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing targeted content to users. In an example method, audio data can be received from a device. Sensor data associated with the device may also be received, and the sensor data may include location data. Upon receiving the audio data, an intent associated with the audio data can be determined. At least one of a product, service, or entity may be determined based on the intent. Content may then be determined based on the sensor data and at least one of the product, service, or entity. The content may be associated with a vehicle. An indication of the content can then be sent to the device.

Methods and systems of providing alternative targeted advertising (TAD) content are shown and disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes outputting a first TAD content during a TAD window, and receiving at least one user input requesting different TAD content during the TAD window. The method additionally includes outputting the different TAD content instead of the first TAD content during the TAD window after at least one predetermined amount of time from start of the TAD window in response to the at least one user input. In some embodiments, the method may further include re-outputting the first TAD content instead of the different TAD content during the TAD window in response to receiving user input requesting different TAD content when the predetermined amount of time associated with each of the different TAD content already has elapsed before receiving the user input.

A request for information (RFI) system is provided for use in communications networks including broadcast networks and the internet. In one implementation, a viewer of a cable television network enters an RFI input (1) to a digital set top box using a user remote. Based on this RFI input, the digital set top box transmits a data request (2) to an RFI data center. The RFI data center also receives asset data (3) from an asset database so as to associate the RFI input (1) with a particular asset. An RFI request (4) can then be transmitted to the appropriate asset provider. The asset provider can then provide a report such package of assets or follow-on information (5) back to the RFI data center. The RFI data center may then, in turn, provide the package of assets or follow-on information to a user data terminal, for example, of the cable television network viewer, via access through a web-portal or e-mail (6). The digital set top box may also record inputs from the user to verify consumption of assets and track data requests. Using this information, the RFI data center or an RFI platform may credit value to a rewards account established for the network user based on the user's verified consumption of assets and/or data requests. Further, the RFI data center or RFI platform may be used to collect consumer behavior information, including purchasing decisions made by the user after consumption of assets, and correlate the consumer behavior information with the user's verified asset consumption.

Methods and systems are disclosed for interacting with advertisements on a virtual keyboard. An advertisement appears in a position that is proximate to a virtual key of the virtual keyboard. A user can manipulate the advertisement based on performing one or more types of gestures or key presses on or near the virtual keys. One type of gesture triggers an interaction with the advertisement and another type of gesture or key press performs a standard keyboard function.