A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, a complete index that can be used to locate each data chunk in each of these tracks and an abridged index that can enable the location of a subset of the data chunks in each track, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames, a first index that includes information indicative of the location within the file and characteristics of each encoded video frame and a separate second index that includes information indicative of the location within the file of a subset of the encoded video frames.

According to one aspect there is provided an audio system 10 comprising a transmission unit 100 and a plurality of speaker units 110-1, 110-2, 10-N, wherein the transmission unit 100 comprises a controller 101 and a wireless communication interface 103 arranged for communication according to an IEEE 802.11 standard (WiFi™), wherein the controller 101 is configured to: receive an audio data package to be played back; and to transmit the audio data package to be played back over the wireless communication interface 103 utilizing the same protocol for the transmission of the audio data package and for synchronizing the playback of the audio data, and wherein each of plurality of the speaker units 110-1, 110-2, 10-N comprises a controller 111, a PCM 111-1, a speaker element 114 and a wireless communication interface 113 arranged for communication according to an IEEE 802.11 standard (WiFi™), wherein the controller 111 is configured to: receive the at least one data package to be played back through the wireless communication interface 113 and to cause audio represented by the received audio data package to be played back through the speaker element 114 by feeding the audio data to the PCM 111-1 being connected to the speaker element 114.

Methods and systems for improved detection of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving an audio signal containing an audio transmission. The audio transmission may contain a predetermined portion that was initially generated based on an expected sequence of complex-valued signals. A real portion of the expected sequence of complex-valued signals may be compared to the received audio signal to identify a first portion of the received audio signal. A complex portion of the expected sequence may be compared to portions of the received audio signal near the first portion of the received audio signal to identify a second portion of the received audio signal. An arrival time of the audio transmission may be determined based on the second portion of the received audio signal.

A method including while receiving a live digital audio stream from one or more remote servers and outputting the live digital audio stream via a speaker of a client device, receiving the updated content schedule from the one or more remote servers, generating and displaying a real-time programming guide user-interface including the updated content schedule and least one content segment component corresponding to at least one of the content segment data in the updated content schedule. The method further includes transmitting a content segment digital audio signal request to the one or more remote servers for a prior portion of the live digital audio stream corresponding to the content segment data; and, in response to receiving the prior portion of the live digital audio stream, ceasing outputting the live digital audio stream and outputting the prior portion of the live digital audio stream corresponding to the content segment data.

Systems and methods for providing contextual based actions based on a natural language input are disclosed. The method comprises: receiving, on a media device, a natural language input; determining, based on the natural language input, a first context of the natural language input; and determining, based on the first context, a first action. a dynamic action button is generated and configured to be selected by a user to carry out an action, and in response to the user selecting the dynamic action button, the systems and methods describe carrying out the first action.

Systems and methods for generating audible pronunciation of a closed captioning word in a content item. For example, a system generates for output on a first device a content item comprising dialogue. The system generates for display on the first device a closed captioning word corresponding to the dialogue where the closed captioning word is selectable via a user interface of the first device. The system receives a selection of the closed captioning word via the user interface of the first device. In response to receiving the selection of the closed captioning word, the system generates for playback on the first device at least a portion of the dialogue corresponding to the selected closed captioning word.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method, comprising: receiving, by a media processor including a processor, spherical audiovisual media content from a content delivery network; rendering, by the media processor, video for a point of view in the spherical audiovisual media content at a display device coupled to the media processor; receiving, from a remote control device coupled to the media processor, a control signal panning the point of view, resulting in a new field of view; and generating, by the media processor, audio signals from the spherical audiovisual media content corresponding to the new field of view, wherein the audio signals are adapted to audio reproduction equipment coupled to the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method and system for adding overtly human-perceptible supplemental audio content into a media stream to help mask audio effects of an audio watermark in the media stream. A method involves receiving a media stream that defines a sequence of audio content presentable by a content presentation device, modifying the media stream to produce a modified media stream that defines the sequence of audio content, and outputting the modified media stream for presentation by the content presentation device. The modified media stream includes an audio watermark that is machine-detectable to trigger an interactive event. Further, the act of modifying the media stream involves adding into the media stream supplemental audio content coincident with the audio watermark, to help mask the audio watermark in the modified media stream during presentation of the modified media stream by the content presentation device.

A method including: transmitting, by a control device, a first portion of content comprising a first portion of a signal corresponding to a multimedia presentation characteristic of a peripheral device; receiving, when an adjustment of the signal is below an adjustment threshold, a first instance of an input indicating a request to change the multimedia presentation characteristic; in response to receiving the first instance of the input, adjusting a second portion of the signal and transmitting a second portion of the content comprising the adjusted second portion of the signal; receiving, when the adjustment of the signal is at or above the adjustment threshold, a second instance of the input; and transmitting, in response to receiving the second instance of the input, a communication signal to the peripheral device to adjust a peripheral device control of an output of the multimedia presentation characteristic.

The present disclosure relates to an image display apparatus and a method thereof. The image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a display; an external device interface configured to perform short-range communication; and a controller configured to: when the number of external devices communicatively connected with the image display apparatus is one, or when a bandwidth usage for the short-range communication is less than a predetermined reference, transmit an entire signal to the one external device, when the number of the external devices is two or more, and the bandwidth usage is greater than or equal to the predetermined reference, acquire a plurality of channel signals from the entire signal; transmit a first channel signal to a first external device among the external devices; and transmit a second channel signal to a second external device among the external devices.