WIZTIVI has developed the Service using its WIZTIVI Service Platform (WSP) to make it possible to deploy quickly this new breed of interactive channel into multiple IPTV operators’ infrastructures.

To bring the taste of personalization, COGNIK delivers powerful profiling and recommendation services through a web Application Programming Interface (API). The IPTV application is interfaced with COGNIK engine to:

• Collect user information: implicit rating through usage and navigation, explicit rating through specific User Interface (UI) elements.
• Get rich recommendations to dynamically build playlists of video content adapted to the app users.

Such platform approach, combining content discovery with interactive services, has become a key requirement for operators. TV operators want to effectively launch innovative services while keeping high levels of compliance. This joint solution is based on over 8 years of combined R&D efforts.

The game-changing nature of “MON NICKELODEON JUNIOR” has been recognized by the “BEST ENHANCED TV SERVICE” award at AFDESI’s International Interactive TV Awards ceremony taking place in Cannes during MIPCOM. It was also a runner-up in the ENTERTAINMENT and USER EXPERIENCE AND DESIGN INTERFACE categories, making it the most nominated service in the competition.

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A personalized TV channel like “MON NICKELODEON JUNIOR” is built upon a classical Video-On-Demand (VOD) infrastructure: provisioning, video distribution over a Content Delivery Network (CDN), security and a client application running on the targeted devices.

To bring the taste of personalization, COGNIK delivers powerful profiling and recommendation services through a web Application Programming Interface (API). The client application is interfaced with COGNIK engine to :

• Collect user information: implicit rating through usage and navigation, explicit rating through specific User Interface (UI) elements.
• Get rich recommendations to dynamically build playlists of video content adapted to the app users.

OTT video distribution

CDN is a key element to guarantee optimal user experience through the best video quality. The challenge is even more important when it comes to mobile OTT (Over-The-Top) usage where network bandwidth can greatly vary.

SMARTJOG, a part of TDF MEDIA SERVICES, is delivering all OTT digital media for “MON NICKELODEON JUNIOR”. FLV and HLS files are stored to be sent via the CDN that gives a smooth end-user experience.

Cognitive profiling and recommendation

A personalized channel requires an artificial intelligence engine to reproduce expert’s advice when selecting content among hundreds or thousands of titles. The quality of its recommendation defines the user experience.

By using COGNIK’s profiling and recommendation solution, Viacom has been able to design an experience adapted to both the parents and their children.

The content catalog is first enriched using COGNIK’s proprietary algorithms and content-specific rules. Such expert system is designed in close cooperation with ICAR, a leading research lab in cognitive sciences. These extra characteristics come as an addition to existing standard metadata attached to each content (title, producer, release year, synopsis, etc…).

Collected information is processed by COGNIK servers to extract meaningful user insights. Proprietary artificial intelligence engine processes a huge amount of data to quickly find matching content. Recommendation decision is based on usage, similar profiles and content characteristics.

Recommended content can then be used by the client application to automatically build the most relevant playlist of video content to be played back-to-back in the player. However, such playlists must be refreshed often enough to take into account latest users interactions with the application (they are passed to the COGNIK API).

Native iOS client

The native application running on iPhones and iPads is a skinned-up video player. APPLIDIUM has developed a specific video player for “MON NICKELODEON JUNIOR”: it is able to interact with COGNIK API to automatically pick the most relevant videos.

Viewers can also rate the last video seen; they are able to skip to the next content if they don’t quite like it…

Another important feature made available by the COGNIK’s toolbox is the ability to restart a viewing session where it was left. You could stop a session on your iPad at home and seamlessly continue it on your iPhone while on the move.

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Download Press Release ]]> http://cognik.net/cracking-personalized-television-technology-primer/feed/ 0 http://cognik.net/cognik-integrates-vod-recommendation-engine-netgems-solutions/ http://cognik.net/cognik-integrates-vod-recommendation-engine-netgems-solutions/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:27:33 +0000 vtauzia http://cognik.net/?p=1001 CogniK and Netgem have cooperated to offer content discovery capabilities right within Netgem software platform.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – September 5th 2102 – CogniK, a leading provider of content discovery solutions for the media and telecom sectors, and Netgem, a leader in connected home technologies and solutions, have successfully completed the integration of CogniKiosk, CogniK’s content discovery engine optimized for VOD stores.

Operators face an increasing challenge to combine ease of use and choice into their user experience. They understand the opportunities content recommendation can bring in simplifying and shortening the steps for viewers to select content. CogniKiosk, part of CogniK’s suite of content discovery solutions, provides an easy Application Programming Interface which is flexible enough to fit most needs. CogniKiosk provides personal recommendations based on some of the most advanced algorithms integrating latest research in cognitive sciences. It also provides content-to-content recommendation and an “accelerated profiling” toolbox.

In a context of content inflation and multi-screen usage, it is becoming essential for operators to better understand what consumers want and what they actually watch. CogniKiosk provides a full analytical dashboard easy to customize and a business rule engine in order to retain editorial control over content presented to the user.

Vincent Tauzia, CEO and co-Founder of CogniK, said: “This integration will bring an easy way for Netgem’s clients to benefit from our powerful content discovery technologies. It is a forward-looking solution available now on one of the most promising middleware platform in the industry.”

Yann Courqueux, Chief Marketing Officer of Netgem, added: “We trust CogniK recommendation technologies can really improve the user experience by making it easy for viewers to find content relevant to them. This is another important technology brick added to our ecosystem.”

CogniK and Netgem will demonstrate CogniKiosk integration into Netgem’s video store at Netgem’s booth B45 in Hall 5 and at CogniK’s booth B39e in Hall 2 at IBC 2012 in Amsterdam.

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Says Joel Minot, VP of Marketing at Logiways “Our Broadcast Customers demand a VoD experience that is as advanced as the traditional services offered by Cable or IP. The integration of Cognik’s proven technology is a major step towards achieving that, by ensuring accurate optimisation of the available content storage on the users’ PVR, and more effective utilisation of broadcast bandwidth. Our ultimate aim is to deliver only the Content that a particular viewer will want to purchase and view, and discreet, automated Recommendation is a key driver towards that enhanced TV experience”

Vincent Tauzia, CEO of Cognik commented “Our experience of personalising TV with our Connected Client Base now enables Cognik to deliver a client-side off-line Recommendation Engine, optimised for the Broadcast Push VoD environment. We see huge head-room for growth in emerging and non-broadband markets, and this latest partnership with Logiways will enable both Companies to penetrate new market opportunities that were previously inaccessible because of the lack of broadband infrastructure”

Logiways will demonstrate its implementation of the Cognik CogniKuest Recommendation Engine with Logiways VodAccess at IBC 2012 on booth 2.C38b, alongside new, low-cost VoD ‘boxes’ and other advanced features including Audience Measurement and HDD Occupancy Planning, all of which are designed to more closely replicate the high-value wired VoD networks in the developed world.

Rick Smith, Logiways SVP Sales & Marketing says “The explosive growth of on-demand video in emerging markets demands an increasingly sophisticated technology response. Adding Cognik’s proven Recommendation Engine to our VoDAccess offer will enable us to answer those demands with a highly refined viewer experience, which means more revenues for Broadcast Operators and new outlets for Content Providers”.

Same place, same time, new stuff. We keep the same booth and we bring new products and exciting news!

We will be showcasing some of our latest content discovery solutions. You will be able to see in action some of our hottests innovation to help you personalize media experiences across all screens:

• Video stores
• Personal Channels
• Personal Video Guides
• Personalization of non-connected video stores

Want to meet? Book your demo now!

The channel’s dynamic personal scheduling is based on Nickelodeon Junior catalogue (featuring Dora and Diego). It is done according to themes parents can choose, their child’s profile (name, age, gender) and the desired viewing time.
The channel can be viewed on several devices, including IPTV, PC, tablet computer and smartphone.

A word on CogniK content discovery:
CogniK’s personalized media solutions are developped in cooperation with CNRS research lab ICAR.
Besides children entertainment (deployed in France, Norway, Poland and China), off-the-shelves personalized media solutions are also available for other audiences: music, news, cinema, television, lifestyle and home shopping.

Get in touch for a demo!

Content service providers across Europe are now able to leverage the power of CogniK’s profiling and recommendation solutions while benefiting from the expertise and services of these reknowned platform integrators.

Read the related press releases here:

Contents recommendation: Wiztivi and CogniK sign a strategic partnership	Connected screens : CogniK & Hubee get together to personalize television

“As a mom you are already pleased to offer your child a channel as appropriate,entertaining and informative as Nickelodeon Jr. .. What if, CanalSat proposed to go further? Who better than you know what your child like and what they need for their entertainment and learning? Today, you can get in control of the programming of your favorite channel according to the importance you place in TV, your preferences or that of your child; to make it brief: more “customized” than it already is.

A few clicks of settings (age, profile, etc. desired theme), the possibility for your child to interact and rate each program or, at any time, access to a viewing record to assess the time spent for each program and identify favorites or those of less interest, and you get the TV most personal of all.”

Because every child and parent is unique and demanding My Nickedolodeon Junior offers unique and reassuring television.

In Cannes, we will pitch a jury of media experts and investors CogniK’s content discovery solutions. Come and join us at MIPTV, you will discover how we help media and telco to monetize their existing content catalogs and audiences.

Paris, 17 March 2011 – CC Ventures, the new startup competition for innovation in connected entertainment today unveils the 11 finalists. They will pitch their projects to an expert jury during Connected Creativity at MIPTV, the new global forum uniting the world’s dominant market forces and leading innovators in entertainment, mobile media and technology which runs from 4-7 April in Cannes.

The CC Ventures finalists, selected by an international committee headed by Guilhem Bertholet, Director of the HEC Incubator, are: Camup, USA; Cognik, France; Fair Play Interactive, France; Futurecode, Finland; Hit Me Baby, UK; Hitlantis, Finland; Invideous, UK; Jakaa, France; Lorenzi TV, France; Mediabong, France and Stupeflix, France.

“The first edition of CC Ventures is extremely encouraging. We are very excited about highlighting  some of the most innovative startups in digital entertainment. It gives us great satisfaction to provide these new players with unique access to some of the major media investors and venture capitalists,” says Laurine Garaude, Director of the Television Division at Reed MIDEM.

On 6 April in the Hotel Majestic, the selected companies will present their activities to a panel of experts representing venture capital and corporate funds (Balderton, Comcast Interactive, Morgan Lewis, Ventech, VentureBeat). The winners will be announced shortly after during the CC Ventures awards at the Connected Party.

For more information on CC Ventures finalists, click here.

For more information on Connected Creativity at MIPTV, click here.

CogniK team developed, on-site and in only a few hours of hard coding, an Android adaptation of Kizz TV, the edutainment service for preschool kids, using some Alcatel-Lucent’s Open API Service APIs.

On Thursday, Vincent Tauzia, CogniK co-founder and CEO, was on stage: he had the opportunity to pitch CogniK solutions, featuring a unique profiling & recommendation engine solutions to based on cognitive science, to LeWeb audience. Vincent also had the pleasure to receive a 3000 EUR check.

Video: CogniK awarded second prize at LeWeb10

Picture – Vincent demonstrating Kizz TV to the Hackathon jury on a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet running Android 2.2 Froyo:

CogniK interview for the event can be read here.