An electronic device configures a device-agnostic voice assistant library for execution on the electronic device based on the electronic device having a first device type. The electronic device also selects an implementation for the voice assistant library. After the configuring, the electronic device receives a verbal input from a user. It extracts request information from the verbal input by processing the verbal input using the voice assistant library executing on the device. It transmits a request to a remote system, the request including the extracted request information. The electronic device receives a response to the request. The response is generated by the remote system in accordance with the extracted request information. The electronic device performs an operation in accordance with the response by one or more voice processing modules of the configured voice assistant library.

A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be near the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located near the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.

The present invention is intended to permit both real-time display of a picture represented by a non-compressed video signal on a television and display of a picture represented by a compressed video signal at any desired time by simultaneously transmitting the compressed video signal and non-compressed video signal via one interface. An STB packetizes a compressed video signal, and multiplexes the compressed video signal and a blanking signal combined with a non-compressed video signal. Thus, both the video signals are transmitted simultaneously. A picture represented by the non-compressed video signal is displayed on a television in real time. The compressed video signal is stored in a storage medium incorporated in the television, read at any user's desired time, and decoded so that a picture represented by the compressed video signal can be viewed at the user's desired time.

The disclosed embodiments include methods, devices, and storage mediums for adjusting the output volume of audio content. In one aspect, a method performed at an audio device includes: (1) identifying a remote location for audio content; (2) streaming the audio content from the remote location; (3) producing an audible output from the audio content at a first volume level; and (4) while producing the audible output: (a) receiving an indication that a user is about to submit verbal input to the electronic device; (b) in response to the indication, adjusting the audible output from the first volume level to a second volume level, less than the first volume level; (c) receiving the verbal input from the user; and (d) after receiving the verbal input, adjusting the audible output from the second volume level to the first volume level.

Disclosed example audience measurement apparatus determine a first audience metric based on set-top box return path tuning data obtained from set-top boxes located in a first geographic area; determine a second audience metric from a portion of audience measurement data corresponding to a second geographic area, the portion of the audience measurement data associated with monitored sites in the second geographic area having second set-top box characteristics that correspond with first set-top box characteristics of the set-top boxes located in the first geographic area; determine ratios of (i) respective first audience metrics determined for respective demographic stratifications to (ii) corresponding second audience metrics determined for the respective demographic stratifications; and combine the ratios after multiplication with third audience metrics determined, for the respective demographic stratifications, from the audience measurement data to determine an audience exposure metric that estimates exposure to media in the first geographic area.

A system described herein provides real-time wireless video delivery using a multi-channel communications link. A method of employing elements of the system includes generating a first set of video data and generating a second set of video data. Further, encoding the first set of video data such that the second set of video data is a higher resolution version of the first set of video data and the encoded first set of video data is to supplement the second set of video data in response to a data drop.

A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be near the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located near the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.

Disclosed example audience measurement apparatus include first estimator means for determining a first audience metric based on set-top box return path tuning data obtained from a plurality of set-top boxes located in a first geographic area, second estimator means for determining a second audience metric from a portion of audience measurement data corresponding to a second geographic area different from the first geographic area, the portion of the audience measurement data associated with monitored sites in the second geographic area having second set-top box characteristics that correspond with first set-top box characteristics of the plurality of set-top boxes located in the first geographic area, and third estimator means for (i) determining a ratio of the first audience metric to the second audience metric, and (ii) processing the audience measurement data based on the ratio to determine an audience exposure metric estimating exposure to media in the first geographic area.

A method at an electronic device with an audio input system includes: receiving a verbal input at the device; processing the verbal input; transmitting a request to a remote system, the request including information determined based on the verbal input; receiving a response to the request, wherein the response is generated by the remote system in accordance with the information based on the verbal input; and performing an operation in accordance with the response, where one or more of the receiving, processing, transmitting, receiving, and performing are performed by one or more voice processing modules of a voice assistant library executing on the electronic device, the voice processing modules providing a plurality of voice processing operations that are accessible to one or more application programs and/or operating software executing or executable on the electronic device.

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol. In an ATSC 3.0 environment, receivers (including consumer and professional receivers) have signal reception parameters and antenna factors available to them. These reception parameters, together with time and location data are transmitted to one or more servers that maintain databases of reception characteristics. This data is analyzed such that a set of likely receivable signals (based on reception parameters, date/time, location, geographical features, transmitter information, etc.) is identified. Receivers query the servers to receive information indicating the set of likely receivable signals to reduce channel scan time by scanning only or first for more-receivable channels. Also, difficult reception locations identified in the data collected by the servers are used in aggregate to guide RF improvements (e.g., adding SFN transmitters). Further, the data collected by the servers may provide data to be used to feed MFN data.