Patents Assigned to Netflix, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11126799
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing a string of text that includes characters written in a first language. The method may next include translating the text string into different languages using machine translation. The method may next include identifying, among the translated text strings, a shortest string and a longest string. The method may also include calculating a customized string length adjustment ratio for adjusting the length of the accessed text string based on the shortest translated string length and the longest translated string length. Furthermore, the method may include dynamically applying the calculated customized string length adjustment ratio to the accessed text string, so that the length of the accessed text string may be dynamically adjusted according to the customized string length adjustment ratio. The method may also include presenting the adjusted text string in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Brandall, Shawn Xu
  • Patent number: 11119845
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for performing distributed anti-entropy repair procedures across a plurality of nodes in a distributed database network. A node included in a plurality of nodes within the distributed database network determines, before all other nodes included in the plurality of nodes, that a first anti-entropy repair procedure has ended. The node determines that a second anti-entropy repair procedure is ready to begin. The node generates a schedule for executing one or more operations associated with the second anti-entropy repair procedure. The node writes the schedule to a shared repair schedule data structure to initiate the second anti-entropy repair procedure across multiple nodes included in the plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes included in the plurality of nodes then performs a node repair based on the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Vinay Chella, Joseph Lynch, Ajay Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 11122075
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method includes applying transport protocol heuristics to selective acknowledgement (SACK) messages received at a network adapter from a network node. The transport protocol heuristics identify threshold values for operational functions that are performed when processing the SACK messages. The method further includes determining, by applying the transport protocol heuristics to the SACK messages received from the network node, that the threshold values for the transport protocol heuristics have been reached. In response to determining that the threshold values have been reached, the method includes identifying the network node as a security threat and taking remedial actions to mitigate the security threat. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Stewart
  • Patent number: 11113000
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a memory pool application implements composite arrays via a memory pool that includes a first slab and a second slab. First, the memory pool application assigns the first slab and the second slab to a composite array. The memory pool application then modifies a final data word included in the first slab to store a first portion of a specified value and a leading data word included in the second slab to store a second portion of the specified value. The memory pool application copies the second data word to a duplicate data word included in the first slab. Subsequently, the memory pool application performs an unaligned read operation on the first slab based on a specified offset to retrieve a first word stored in memory and extracts the specified value from the first word based on the specified offset and a specified number of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: John Andrew Koszewnik
  • Patent number: 11115688
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a graph streaming application computes a first distance along a first potential playback path between a first playback position and a first media content block. The graph streaming application then computes a first score for the first media content block based on the first distance and a first probability associated with the first potential playback path. Similarly, the graph streaming application computes a second score for a second media content block based on a second playback position, a second potential playback path, and a second probability associated with the second potential playback path. The graph streaming application compares the first score and the second score to determine that the first media content block should be buffered by a client device. The graph streaming application then causes the first media content block to be stored in a playback buffer for subsequent playback on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Watson
  • Patent number: 11107206
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a defective pixel detection application automatically detects defective pixels in video content. In operation, the defective pixel detection application computes a first set of pixel intensity gradients based on a first frame of video content and a first neighborhood of pixels associated with a first pixel. The defective pixel detection application also computes a second set of pixel intensity gradients based on the first frame and a second neighborhood of pixels associated with the first pixel. Subsequently, the defective pixel detection application computes a statistical distance between the first set of pixel intensity gradients and the second set of pixel intensity gradients. The defective pixel detection application then determines that the first pixel is defective based on the statistical distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Subhabrata Bhattacharya, Adithya Prakash, Rohit Puri
  • Patent number: 11106566
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a network emulation application emulates network conditions when testing a software application. In response to a request to emulate a first set of network conditions for a first client device that is executing the software application, causing a kernel to implement a first pipeline and to automatically input network traffic associated with the first client device to the first pipeline instead of a default bridge. In response to a request to emulate a second set of network conditions for a second client device that is executing the software application, causing the kernel to implement a second pipeline and to automatically input network traffic associated with the second client device to the second pipeline instead of the default bridge. Each of the pipelines perform one or more traffic shaping operations on at least a subset of the network traffic input into the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Grégoire Péan, Benoit Fontaine
  • Patent number: 11094346
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player. The audio data is streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data is streamed at a specified video quality level. The method also includes determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level. Still further, the method includes dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Sharma, Guillaume du Pontavice
  • Patent number: 11086960
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computer-implemented method of receiving an invalidation command that includes a first asset identifier, and a set of extension value fields, identifying a first file that is stored in a first cache device and is associated with an identifier matching the first asset identifier, comparing attributes of the first file to the set of extension value fields, and upon determining that, for each extension value field, at least one attribute of the first file matches at least one value of the extension value field, causing the first file in the first cache device to be preserved, or upon determining that, for at least one extension value, at least one attribute of the first file does not match at least one value of the extension value field, causing the first file to be invalidated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 11087338
    Abstract: One embodiment sets forth technique for computing a similarity score between two digital items is computed based on interaction histories associated with global users and interaction histories associated with local users. Global counts indicating the number of interactions associated with each unique pair of digital items are weighted based on a mixing rate. The weighted global counts are then combined with local counts to compute total counts. An effective interaction probability indicating the likelihood of a user interacting with one digital item in the pair of digital items after interacting with the other digital item in the pair is computed based on the total counts. The effective interaction probability is then corrected for noise, resulting in a similarity score indicating the similarity between the pair of digital items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos Alberto Gomez Uribe, Vijay Bharadwaj
  • Patent number: 11082752
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a client computing device for a first shot included in a media title being streamed to the client computing device for playback; in response to the request, sending the first shot to the client computing device for playback; and sending a representative image for at least one of the first shot and a second shot included in the media title, wherein the first shot comprises a first sequence of video frames that is included in the media title and captured continuously from a first point of capture, and the second shot comprises a second sequence of video frames that is included in the media title and captured continuously from a second point of capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Aditya Mavlankar, Ioannis Katsavounidis
  • Patent number: 11068404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a data processing method provides an improvement in efficient use of computer memory and comprises using a computer, creating in computer memory a glyph memory area that is configured to store a plurality of cached glyphs; using the computer, receiving a request from an application to use a particular glyph; in response to the request, determining whether the particular glyph is in the glyph memory area; in response to determining that the particular glyph is not in the glyph memory area: attempting to store a bitmap of the particular glyph to a next location in the glyph memory area; in response to determining that the next location is not available a first time, reclaiming space in the glyph memory area in an amount sufficient to store the bitmap; attempting a second time to store the bitmap in the next location in the glyph memory area; in response to determining that the next location is not available a second time, clearing the glyph memory area of all previously stored glyphs and stori
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Seeley, Kim Trott, Matthew McCarthy, Dylan Oudyk, Sam Magnuson, Jan Hanssen
  • Patent number: 11070485
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method includes accessing information related to a playback session in which at least a portion of requested multimedia content is streamed over a network to a client electronic device. The method further includes accessing network topology information for the network to identify which route through the network was used to provide the requested multimedia content during the playback session, including indicating which end node was used to provide the multimedia content. Still further, the method includes accessing network steering factors that indicate why the requested multimedia content was steered through the identified network route, determining, based on the network steering factors, which end node would have been more suited to providing the requested multimedia content for the playback session, and then transferring the requested multimedia content to the determined end node for provisioning during subsequent playback sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Lara Deek, Ishaan Shastri, Mohit Vora
  • Patent number: 11048660
    Abstract: One embodiment includes acceleration systems that operate as intermediaries between the API processing system and the clients to reduce API call roundtrip latencies. The acceleration systems are a network of interconnected systems that are distributed across the globe. A given acceleration system establishes a network connection with a given client and receives a request for processing an API call over the connection. The programming function associated with the API call is configured in the API processing system. The acceleration system facilitates the processing of the API call over an established connection with the API processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Olivier Jean Poitrey
  • Patent number: 11025695
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for modifying a rules engine implemented in a highly-scaled computing environment. The technique includes receiving rules data that include a first operation, wherein the first operation is from a set of pre-defined operations and includes at least one dimension that is from a set of pre-defined dimensions and building a list of rules based on the rules data, wherein the list of rules filters an extended list of entries based on the first operation and on a first value that corresponds to the at least one dimension. The technique further includes receiving a request to generate a filtered list of entries, wherein the request references the first value, and, in response to receiving the request, applying the list of rules to the extended list of entries based on the first value to generate the filtered list of entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Haley Tucker
  • Patent number: 11025858
    Abstract: The disclosed method includes accessing video content encoded at a specified frame rate, and determining a refresh rate for an electronic display on which the video content is to be presented. The method next includes specifying a time interval for the video content over which frame rate conversion is to be applied to synchronize the video content frame rate with the electronic display refresh rate. The method also includes presenting the video content on the electronic display where the playback speed is adjusted for a first part of the interval. At this adjusted speed, the interval is played back using original video frames and multiple frame duplications. The presenting also adjusts playback speed of a second part of the interval. At the adjusted speed, the interval is played back using the original frames and a different number of frame duplications. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Weiguo Zheng, Rex Yik Chun Ching
  • Patent number: 11025986
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, with a computing system, data representing a video item into a buffer. The method further includes outputting the video item from the buffer to a display system. The method further includes determining that utilization of the buffer falls below a predetermined threshold. The method further includes, in response to determining that the utilization of the buffer falls below the predetermined threshold, determining that there is a specified rebuffering point within a predetermined time frame. The method further includes pausing with the computing system, the video item at the specified rebuffering point in response to determining that there is the specified rebuffering point within the predetermined time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ioannis Katsavounidis, Mark Watson, Aaron Hipple, Will Wolcott
  • Patent number: 11019374
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an interpolation-based encoding application encodes a first subsequence included in a media title at each encoding point included in a first set of encoding points to generate encoded subsequences. Subsequently, the interpolation-based encoding application performs interpolation operation(s) based on the encoded subsequences to estimate a first media metric value associated with a first encoding point that is not included in the first set of encoding points. The interpolation-based encoding application then generates an encoding recipe based on the encoded subsequences and the first media metric value. The encoding recipe specifies a different encoding point for each subsequence included in the media title. After determining that the encoding recipe specifies the first encoding point for the first subsequence, the interpolation-based encoding application encodes the first subsequence at the first encoding point to generate at least a portion of an encoded version of the media title.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Glenn Van Wallendael, Anne Aaron, Kyle Swanson, Jan De Cock, Liwei Guo, Sonia Bhaskar
  • Patent number: 11017024
    Abstract: A content provider system ranks media content items with respect to a particular user based on selection scores determined for each of the media content items. The selection scores may be determined using a particular model that calculates a predicted selection score based on feature values associated with the content item with respect to the particular user. The feature values may indicate properties of the media content item, the particular user, or the particular user's relationship with the content item, including information about the novelty of the media content item with respect to the user. The particular model may be trained with sample user consumption data points that represent various combinations of media content items and users. The data point information evaluated during the training of the particular model may cause the model to assign higher selection scores to content items that are novel in particular ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Justin D. Basilico
  • Patent number: 11010341
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for replicating a file within a network of servers. The technique includes determining one or more regional master servers included in a regional cluster of servers and causing each regional master server to retrieve a file from a fill source. The technique further includes, for at least one local cluster of servers included in the regional cluster of servers, determining one or more local master servers included in the at least one local cluster of servers, and causing each local master server to retrieve the file from one of the one or more regional master servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Chen, Christopher Brand, Daniel Ellis, Alex Gutarin