Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

William Michael Mozell

David Seymour

Peter Duyen Hung Hoang

Joshua Trusz

Shannon Yen Yun Lee

Jun Ho Moon

Ryan Ronald Cleven

Preetinderpal Singh Mangat

Henry Stuart Denison Watson

Tad Natsuhara

Joey Hoi-Man Lee

William Axel Olsen

Matthew Nigel Carter

Mark Allen Findlay

Dashan Yue

Sang Young Park

Cody Snyder

Michelle Tze Hiang Chua

Jeremy Bruce Kersey

Darren Woo

Enrico William Guld

Tyler Bielman

Stephen Wolynsky

Helen Joan Hem Lam

Helen Lam

William Ben Hanke

Michael Mahar

Jesse William Wesson

Darrin Adam Brown

Remus Gabriel Radu

Daniel Frank

Matthew Davy Walsh

Joey Lee

Michael James Perzel

Henry Stuart Watson

Cameron David James McRae

Raymond Alexander Chi-Yue Lum

Eric C Bridgwater

David T Ferguson

Kirk Christopher Gibbons

Daniel Daigle

The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology in which highlight (curated) videos are automatically generated for users to watch based upon estimated interest levels with respect to segments of a longer video or set of videos. In one aspect, statistics are collected with respect to actions of viewers of the video or set of videos. These may include playback-related actions such as the number of times a particular segment is played, and/or behavioral actions of viewers during the playback. Based upon which segments have the highest estimated interest levels, a subset of the segments are selected for a playback list, which when played provides the highlight/curated video.

Video service with automated video timeline curation

Embodiments described herein enable user interaction with a video segment. A hit-zone file, which includes hit-zone data, is produced and stored for a video segment, wherein the hit-zone data corresponds to spatial regions that define hit-zones for hidden objects included in the video segment. The hit-zone file is provided to a computing system so that when the computing system displays the video segment the hit-zone file adds hit-zones for the hidden objects included in the video segment. The hit-zone file is produced separate from the video segment. Each of the hit-zones is defined by a different portion of the hit-zone data and corresponds to a different one of the hidden objects included in the video segment. The spatial regions that define the hit-zones for hidden objects are not visible to a user of the computing system that views the video segment with the hit-zones added.

Enabling user interactions with video segments

Various enhanced interactive TV experiences are supported by a real-time TV service that can interact over a network with applications running on interactive TV platforms. The real-time television service enables data, video, and communication user interface (UI) elements to be supported alongside the linear TV content in three discrete navigational states, each with a specific role aligning to user intent. In the case of one particular UI element&#x2014;a focused companion panel&#x2014;a live stream of personalized data is supported that enhances the user's comprehension and awareness of live events. The real-time TV service can further enable users to opt in to certain customizable events and be served notifications on the TV screen on which their attention is directed, and follow the notification into an application that lands them on a specific piece of content that satisfies specific conditions.

Enhanced interactive television experiences

A system and method are disclosed for enhancing a linear broadcast of a network television program by automatically displaying alerts over the linear broadcast relating to web content determined to be of interest to the linear broadcast or user. The alert may include a link such that, once actioned upon, web content may be presented to the user in addition to the linear broadcast or in the place of the linear broadcast.

Intelligent routing of notifications to grouped devices

Display screen with graphical user interface

Methods and systems for providing a customizable channel guide, and more specifically, a personalized channel guide for a user, are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, indications of types of content for which the user has an interest are received. Information about content that is available for viewing is accessed. Personalized channels for the user are generated based on the received indications of the types of content for which the user has an interest and based on the information about content that is available for viewing. Each separate personalized channel provides the user with access to a separate type of content for which the user has an interest. A listing of at least some of the personalized channels is displayed to thereby enable the user to select one of the personalized channels.

Customizable channel guide

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

William Michael Mozell