Wideorbit Inc.

James M Kott

John W Morris

Robert D Green

Brian S Bosworth

Iv Morris John W

Mediacast video content detection systems and methods that analyze the image content data of mediacast source data flows that include a variety of replaceable video content segments and a variety of non-replaceable video content segments to detect one or more characteristics of the video content segments. Detection regions may be utilized to detect visual elements in the video content segments that provide information regarding one or more properties of the video content segments, such as program type, start times, end times, video content provider, title, and the like. Replacement video content segments may replace video content segments determined to be replaceable. A buffering scheme may be employed to inherently adjust asynchronicity between a broadcast or Webcast and a mediacast. Actual insertion of replacement video content segments may occur upstream of a content consumer device or at the content consumer device.

Systems and methods to identify video content types

Systems and methods for content and program type detection, including identification of true boundaries between content segments. A broadcast provider sends a broadcast as an encoded stream. During a switch between content types, an automation system sends identifying metadata indicative of an approximate boundary between content types. A mediacast generation system receives the encoded stream of content and metadata, processes the metadata, time corrects the metadata, and slices the content on the exact boundary where the content change occurs. The mediacast generation system decodes an audio stream directly into Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE) while using an envelope follower to measure amplitude. When the system detects a metadata marker, an analyzer may look inside a buffered time window. The WAVE data may be analyzed to look for a period most likely to be the true boundary or split point between content segments. The content may then be split up on the new true boundary.

Content management and provisioning system

Content delivery is provided responsive to mediacast content consumer requests by providing personalized mediacasts to each of a plurality of mediacast content consumers. Each of the personalized mediacasts includes a variety of replaceable programming and non-programming content segments and a variety of non-replaceable programming and non-programming content segments. Replacement programming and non-programming content segments may be targeted, for example selected based in part on one or more selection criterion associated with the mediacast content consumer, or provided by the broadcaster or Webcaster. A buffering scheme may be employed to inherently adjust asynchronicity between a broadcast or Webcast and a personalized mediacast. Actual insertion of replacement programming and non-programming content segments may occur upstream of a content consumer device or at the content consumer device.

Systems and methods to deliver a personalized mediacast with an uninterrupted lead-in portion

Content delivery system may include a metadata tunnel system component which is responsive to defined subaudible tones in programming, for instance programming provided for a broadcast. An action may be based on a characteristic or aspect of the subaudible tone, for instance frequency and/or duration. The metadata tunnel system may selectively generate or provide modified or new metadata to downstream components (e.g., injector system, encoder). The metadata tunnel system may provide metadata that causes a content provider identifier that identifies a content provider to appear in an alternative feed of programming (e.g., streaming programming) at points downstream of a broadcaster, for instance at end user media players. The metadata tunnel system may provide metadata that inhibits an injector system from injecting (e.g., inserting, substituting) new content into the alternative feed of programming created from portions of broadcast programming.

Systems, methods and articles to provide content in networked environment

Content delivery is provided responsive to content consumer requests by providing dynamically generated manifests to content consumers, the manifests providing retrieval information to retrieve content or media fragments of content from segments of a broadcast or Webcast and alternative or replacement content. Alternative or replacement content may be targeted, for example selected based in part on characteristics associated with the content consumer. Content fragments may be cached with CDNs, for example based on a defined preference. Actual insertion of alternative content may occur upstream of a content consumer device or at the content consumer device.

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

James M Kott