In some implementations, a system can be configured to allow remote control devices to quietly obtain status information related to various audio/video playback devices. For example, a streaming device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can establish a streaming connection to a playback device. The playback device can be configured to only accept a single streaming connection (i.e., master connection). A remote control device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can quietly connect (i.e., control connection) to the playback device without interrupting the master connection to obtain status information related to the playback device and or the media being streamed to the playback device. The remote control device can provide commands through the control connection to adjust the playback of the streamed media at the playback device.

A sound playback method implemented in a system including an audio/video decoder and a plurality of pieces of audio playback equipment that have been grouped together in the same audio group, the method comprising the steps of defining a first subgroup comprising the audio/video decoder and at least one first piece of audio playback equipment, and a second subgroup comprising at least one second piece of audio playback equipment; dynamically determining a current mode that is occupied by the system; when the system is in the first mode, causing the first subgroup to play back a first audio signal comprising a common audio content, and causing the second subgroup to play back a second audio signal comprising the common audio content; when the system is in the second mode, causing the first subgroup to play back a third audio signal comprising an audio stream forming part of the audio-video stream, and causing the second subgroup to play back a fourth audio signal.

According to one implementation, a method of guiding an interaction between a companion module and a user includes identifying a media content for playout by a media player device, transmitting, to a remote server, an interaction schema request identifying the media content and the companion module, and receiving, from the remote server, behavioral manifest data including an instruction for guiding the interaction between the companion module and the user. Such a method also includes obtaining a play head state of the media player device and a playout timecode state of the media content, and identifying a user interaction behavior for the companion module based on the behavioral manifest data, the play head state of the media player device, and the playout timecode state of the media content.

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 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 disclosure generally relates techniques and user interfaces for transmitting audio using a computer system in accordance with some embodiments.

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol in robustly delivering the next generation broadcast television services. A USB driver communicates I.sup.2C through a JAVA® application with a USB dongle implementing for example an ATSC 3.0 tuner, with the JAVA application simply passing I.sup.2C communication between the dongle and driver such that the driver is platform independent.

To facilitate synchronization of processing between a transmission side and a reception side.

Each audio data unit of audio data is sequentially transmitted to a reception side via a predetermined transfer channel. A counter value and a parity value associated with the counter value are, for every predetermined number of audio data units, added to the audio data. For example, the counter value and the parity value added for every predetermined number of audio data units change according to an encryption state.

To allow special processing while processing is synchronized between a transmission side and a reception side.

Each audio data unit of audio data is sequentially transmitted to a reception side via a predetermined transfer channel. A counter value and a parity value associated with the counter value are, for every predetermined number of audio data units, added to the audio data. Predetermined information is transmitted to the reception side with the counter value and the parity value being in a predetermined state based on a preset rule.

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.