Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device including a processing system including a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, including monitoring network traffic to determine a transmission control protocol traffic pattern, determining a target video rate from the transmission control protocol traffic pattern, and modifying an over-the-top video delivery service network according to the target video rate. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Creative intent input describing emotion expectations and narrative information relating to media content is received. Expected physiologically observable states relating to the media content are generated based on the creative intent input. An audiovisual content signal with the media content and media metadata comprising the physiologically observable states is provided to a playback apparatus. The audiovisual content signal causes the playback device to use physiological monitoring signals to determine, with respect to a viewer, assessed physiologically observable states relating to the media content and generate, based on the expected physiologically observable states and the assessed physiologically observable states, modified media content to be rendered to the viewer.

A method and an apparatus for decoding a volumetric video are disclosed. Such a method comprises receiving a data stream representative of a file comprising information for selecting, according to a rendering viewpoint, at least one atlas comprising color and depth data patches associated with a viewpoint in said volumetric video, said color and depth data patches being generated with respect to depth and color reference data acquired from a reference viewpoint in said volumetric video.

Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to deduplicate common devices across multiple data sources are disclosed. An example apparatus includes instructions to identify a first device in a first data source and a second device in a second data source as a possible common device, calculate at least one of a station duration metric, a time match metric or a station path metric, the station duration metric, the time match metric based times of day that the first device tuned to a second set of stations and times of day that the second device tuned to the second set of stations, determine a score based on the at least one of the station duration metric, the time match metric, or the station path metric, and determine when the first device and the second device are a common device based on the score.

Systems and methods for enhancing virality for a content item are disclosed herein. A content item is uploaded to a content sharing platform over a communication network. Feedback on the content item is received from the content sharing platform over the communication network. Based on the feedback, a virality score for the content item is determined and a determination is made as to whether the virality score meets a virality criterion. In response to a determination that the virality score does not meet the virality criterion, a virality enhancement technique is selected from a virality enhancement database, the content item is modified by applying the virality enhancement technique to the content item, and the modified content item is uploaded to the content sharing platform over the communication network.

A method for providing a personalized media stream includes receiving a signal from a user to launch a personalized media stream, determining a current time, identifying a first time slot of a schedule into which the current time falls, identifying a first channel that is associated with the first time slot, wherein viewing history for the user indicates that the user has viewed the first channel during the first time slot in the past, automatically tuning the display device to the first channel in response to the signal, receiving, subsequent to the automatically tuning, a command from the user to pause a program playing on the first channel, identifying a second channel associated with a second time slot, wherein the second time slot occurs later in time that the first time slot, and buffering a portion of a program being shown on the second channel during the second time slot.

A method and system for rendering a HTTP Live Streaming video stream on a display includes a player receiving a master manifest from a network device in response to selecting a video channel. The player also receives a plurality of variant manifests referenced by the master manifest from the network device, where each of the variant manifests references video files each of which having a different bit rate for the same video stream. The player simultaneously maintains the variant manifests in the player. The player determines an effective start time of the video stream based upon the selecting video channel where the effective start time is a time later than an earliest time referenced in the plurality of variant manifests. The player enables reverse of the video stream based upon one of the variant manifests to as early as the effective start time and not enabling reverse of the video stream based upon one of the variant manifests to a time earlier than the effective start time.

In systems and methods for enhancing group watch experiences, a first user's reaction is detected using multiple sensors, e.g., at least one camera and a microphone, and may be combined with context information to determine an action to perform at user equipment devices of other users participating in the group watch to convey the first user's reaction. Images from the at least one camera can be used to determine a portion of the screen to which the user's reaction is directed and/or another user to whom the reaction is directed. The reaction may be conveyed using one or more of an audio effect, a visual effect, haptic effect or text, e.g., to highlight the determined portion or user, display an icon and/or output an audio or video clip. A signal for providing haptic feedback may be transmitted to the user equipment device of the determined user.

The present disclosure is generally directed to media systems configured to receive and play media assets. In particular, methods and systems are provided for improved media asset session continuity across such media systems. Systems and methods are provided herein for continuing media asset sessions across media systems or media devices in a way designed to minimize manual intervention, for example, by determining a likelihood (e.g., a probability) of a user requesting media session continuation of an ongoing media asset or a segment thereof across two or more devices.

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.