Methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein for analyzing content if an interruption occurs during an output of content so as to synchronize a playback point of the output of content to a live point of the output of content. An output of content may be interrupted for any number of reasons, and during the interruption period, the content may be selectively stored.

Implementations generally relate to a message system. In some implementations, a method includes detecting activation of a screen saver that is displayed on a user interface associated with a television platform. The method further includes determining one or more messages to be displayed on the user interface in response to the detecting of the activation of the screen saver. The method further includes displaying the one or more messages on the user interface based on one or more predetermined policies. The method further includes removing the one or more messages from the user interface based on the one or more predetermined policies.

Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes means for detecting that first data associated with media is being written to a first storage of a first media device on a home network at a monitored location, the means for detecting to receive information on the first data from a first metering device and, in response to detecting the first data being written, request, from a second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of a second media device on the home network. The example apparatus also include means for determining that the media has been space-shifted to the first media device from the second media device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data being read from the second storage.

Systems and methods are described to enhance interactive engagement during simultaneous delivery of serial or digital content (e.g., audio, video) to a plurality of users. A machine-based awareness of the context of the content and/or one or more user reactions to the presentation of the content may be used as a basis to interrupt content delivery in order to intersperse a snippet that includes a virtual agent with an awareness of the context(s) of the content and/or the one or more user reactions. This “contextual virtual agent” (CVA) enacts actions and/or dialog based on the one or more machine-classified contexts coupled with identified interests and/or aspirations of individuals within the group of users. The CVA may also base its activities on a machine-based awareness of “future” content that has not yet been delivered to the group, but classified by natural language and/or computer vision processing. Interrupting the delivery of content substantially simultaneously to a group of users and initiating dialog regarding content by a CVA enhances opportunities for users to engage with each other about their shared interactive experience.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device and system for streaming media interaction. The device includes: a short range communication module; a wireless communication module configured to be capable of communicating with a remote server, a processor communicatively connected to the short range communication module and the wireless communication module; a memory having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to: transmit, through the wireless communication module, a control input which is received through the short range communication module; receive a media stream responsive to the control input through the wireless communication module; and output the media stream to an external apparatus.

Systems and methods are provided herein for delaying pause of the play of a media asset. This may be accomplished by a device receiving a command from a user to pause play of a media asset. The device may, in response to determining that the command was received during a sequence of action or a sequence of dialog, delay the pausing of the play of the media asset until the sequence has completed.

While an assistant-enabled device is playing back media content, a method includes receiving a contextual signal from an environment of the assistant-enabled device and executing an event recognition routine to determine whether the received contextual signal is indicative of an event that conflicts with the playback of the media content from the assistant-enabled device. When the event recognition routine determines that the received contextual signal is indicative of the event that conflicts with the playback of the media content, the method also includes adjusting content playback settings of the assistant-enabled device.

A method, system, and computer program product for object-based commenting in an on-demand video includes a processor to receive an on-demand video file selection from a first user for display on a first user device. The processor can receive a first user input pausing the video file at a scene from the first via a first graphical user interface. The processor can receive a second user input from the first user via a first graphical user interface. The second user input can include an object identification and a user comment associated with the object. The processor can identify the object in the scene of the video file based on the object identification and display the second input from the first user to one or more second users via one or more second graphical user interfaces with the identified object over the scene of the video file.

A control device is configured to (i) display transport controls to control playback by the control device, (ii) after connecting to a LAN, determine that one or more playback devices are connected to the LAN, (iii) detect input(s) to transfer playback to a particular playback device connected to the LAN, (iv) cause playback to be transferred to the particular playback device, including: (a) causing first cloud server(s) to transmit, to the particular playback device, resource locator(s) maintained in a shared playback queue, the resource locator(s) corresponding to respective locations of media content at second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service, (b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped, and (c) modifying the transport controls to control playback by the particular playback device, and (v) cause the particular playback device to retrieve the media content from second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service and play back the retrieved media content.

The present invention is directed to a search engine for a video recorder. One embodiment of the present invention operates in an environment that includes one or more set-top boxes connected to or integrated within one or more output devices. The set-top boxes are used to transfer shows from a broadcast input source to one or more types of storage devices and to play back the shows from the storage devices to the output devices, either in a delayed-live fashion or at a later time of the user's choosing. The set-top box displays a graphical user interface (GUI), which gives the user the ability to watch and/or record timeslot based programming, to order on-demand programming, and to playback previously recorded shows that reside on a local or remote storage device. A search engine is added to the GUI that lets the search for shows and receive results in an enhanced manner.