The systems and methods are described herein for playback of content based on progress point information. The systems and methods detect nearby media devices to transmit or request progress point information. Based on the communicated progress point information, the system may generate an option to play back content at a point within the content up to which content was last consumed. When content providers offer different versions of one content item and the user does not select to play back content from the content provider associated with the progress point information, the system determines a proper playback point in other content providers.

Disclosed are a video generation method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a computer readable medium. A specific embodiment of the method comprises: obtaining a video footage and an audio footage, the video footage comprising a picture footage; determining a music point of the audio footage, the music point being used for dividing the audio footage into a plurality of audio clips; using the video footage to generate a video clip for each music clip in the audio footage to obtain a plurality of video clips, corresponding music clips and video clips having the same duration; and splicing the plurality of video clips according to the time when music clips respectively corresponding to the plurality of video clips appear in the audio footage, and adding the audio footage as a video audio signal to obtain a composite video.

Systems and methods for managing the storage of content are described. A video stream may include a content identifier and content information relating to a boundary that may be used to facilitate recording of at least a portion of the video stream.

A method and system for using steganographically-encoded time information as a basis to control when a client carries out a content-related action. The client processes for presentation one or more linear media streams, each defining a respective time sequence of frames of media content, and at least one of the streams being steganographically encoded with at least one watermark at a respective time-point within the linear media stream, the watermark encoding a timestamp of the respective time-point within the linear media stream according to a server clock. The client extracts the timestamp from the watermark and computes a time offset based on a difference between the extracted timestamp and a current time according to a client clock. And the client uses the computed time offset as a basis to determine when the client should carry out a content-related action in a given one of the one or more linear media streams.

A method and system for using steganographically-encoded time information as a basis to control when a client carries out a content-related action. The client processes for presentation one or more linear media streams, each defining a respective time sequence of frames of media content, and at least one of the streams being steganographically encoded with at least one watermark at a respective time-point within the linear media stream, the watermark encoding a timestamp of the respective time-point within the linear media stream according to a server clock. The client extracts the timestamp from the watermark and computes a time offset based on a difference between the extracted timestamp and a current time according to a client clock. And the client uses the computed time offset as a basis to determine when the client should carry out a content-related action in a given one of the one or more linear media streams.

There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.

There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.

A method of capturing free viewpoint content at a location includes recording video on each of a plurality of portable video recording devices at the location; each portable video recording device detecting a wireless synchronisation signal transmitted at the location; and each portable video recording device periodically adding a timestamp to its respective recorded video; where the timestamp is responsive to the detected wireless synchronisation signal, thereby enabling synchronisation of a plurality of recorded videos responsive to the timestamps.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example method includes in response to receipt of a media identifier, extracting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a timestamp from the received media identifier. A time of receipt of the media identifier is determined. A difference between the time of receipt of the media identifier and the timestamp from the received media identifier is determined. A time shifted viewing code is calculated based on the difference The time shifted viewing code is transmitted to a media monitor that transmitted the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code to be reported when the media monitor reports monitoring information.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example method includes in response to receipt of a media identifier, extracting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a timestamp from the received media identifier. A time of receipt of the media identifier is determined. A difference between the time of receipt of the media identifier and the timestamp from the received media identifier is determined. A time shifted viewing code is calculated based on the difference The time shifted viewing code is transmitted to a media monitor that transmitted the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code to be reported when the media monitor reports monitoring information.