Abstract: Managing digital rights of content based on trusted relationships including: tagging the content as using encryption and specifying a retrieval method that is used to request a decryption key so that the content is live streamed to a client device a client device; transmitting an affiliation token to a trusted agent, wherein the trusted agent relays the affiliation token onto the client device based on requirement and identifier of the client device; receiving a request from the client device for the decryption key, which includes a value from the affiliation token to identify the trusted relationships; and verifying the request and providing the decryption key to the client device, wherein the client device uses the decryption key to decrypt the live streaming content for playback. Keywords include digital rights management and trusted relationship.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 12, 2012
Date of Patent:
November 18, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Abstract: Various aspects of a device and a method for processing image content by a device are disclosed herein. The device captures image content based on one or more predetermined events. The device detects a change in a mode of operation of the device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation associated with capturing of the image content. The device renders an output in response to the detected change in the mode of operation of the device. The rendered output is one or more of an audio output or an output non-perceivable by a human.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 7, 2013
Publication date:
November 13, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, SONY CORPORATION
Abstract: Implementations of the system and method use an existing management server infrastructure to deliver video-on-demand or streaming content, including real-time live streaming. Existing client content playback devices, such as IPTVs, may be employed to stream content items, obtain advertisements, track user's viewing behaviors, and the like. By reusing existing client devices, there is no need for additional hardware purchases on the user side. By reusing existing management server infrastructures, capital expenses are also reduced. In such a system, a user can watch both video-on-demand and streaming audiovisual content.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 27, 2012
Date of Patent:
November 11, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Abstract: A digital video viewing system including methods for user selection of video advertisement content and time of display of video advertisements during a live video content stream. The digital video viewing system includes modules for receiving, evaluating and transmitting data within the digital video viewing system and to Internet protocol content providers. Also shown are methods for recording and re-playing live internet protocol content in conjunction with the video advertisement display methods.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 30, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 28, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Stewart Stremler
Abstract: Apparatus and methods to implement a technique for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the native application on the second display to directly launch the second display application with a requested search term so that the user is immediately brought to a search page with relevant search results. The search term may be derived from the native application which in turn derives from the context of the IP TV. Such a context could be metadata from a currently playing BD from a BD player or TV channel. The second display application may be a web application or a native remote controller application. The second display could be a smart phone that can often be found beside the user, or a laptop or tablet PC, a desktop PC, or the like.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 11, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Ling Jun Wong, Charles McCoy, True Xiong
Abstract: Apparatus and methods to implement a technique for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the user to conveniently enter search terms and other commands for control of their IPTV device directly from a second display device using voice commands. Such is particularly convenient when the second display is a device such as a smart phone or tablet computer with limited display space for user data entry.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2012
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Davender Agnihotri, Sandeep Krishna, Chunlan Yao
Abstract: In order to acquire a viewer's enjoyment and interest when viewing three-dimensional contents on a consumer electronic device, a viewer's eyes are monitored in real-time. Biometric data from the monitoring can be used for delivery of highly accurate and personalized viewing experiences for the viewer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 18, 2014
Applicants:
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC, Sony Corporation
Abstract: The display of information supplied from a remote source is customized. Profile data identifying user preferences or display characteristics associated with a user's display device is transmitted to the remote source. Descriptive closed caption data disposed in a predetermined location in the data structure of the information is received from that remote source. The descriptive closed caption data is parsed from the received information; and the user's preference or display characteristic is recognized from the parsed data. The parsed data is used to control the user's display device, thereby displaying the supplied information in accordance with the user's preference or in accordance with the particular display characteristics of the user's display device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 18, 2014
Applicants:
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC, Sony Corporation
Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2012
Date of Patent:
September 16, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Ling Jun Wong
Abstract: Certain aspects of a system and method for seamless navigation of content between different devices may include one or more devices communicably coupled to one or more servers through a communication network. The devices are capable of rendering content. The device generates the status information corresponding to the first content and communicates the status information to a server when the device navigates from the first content and/or to a second content. The device can render the second content based on a metadata associated with the second content received from the server. The server generates a metadata associated the first content based on the status information received from the device. The server saves the metadata associated with the first content. The server communicates the metadata associated with the first content to a device when the first content has to be rendered in the device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 6, 2013
Publication date:
September 11, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, SONY CORPORATION
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Ling Jun Wong
Abstract: An originating device is controlled by a client device by receiving a media stream from the originating device over a network at the client device. The media stream includes media content and metadata such that the metadata informs the client device of at least one function of the originating device that is available for control by the client device. A control command is transmitted in the media stream from the client device to control the at least one function of the originating device. In response, the client device receives an altered media stream over the network at the client device such that the altered media stream includes media content altered in response to the transmitted command. The altered media content can be displayed on the client device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 11, 2013
Publication date:
September 11, 2014
Applicants:
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC, Sony Corporation
Inventors:
Charles McCOY, True Xiong, Ling Jun Wong
Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow users to browse services, content items, or the like using a personalized user interface. Thus, for example, users can browse content offerings on the second display in a language and font set that are personalized to themselves. Users may also browse offerings that match a parental ratings setting, and use a background image and layout of their choice. The second displays generally do not require additional investment by the user because the same make use of a device, e.g., a smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer, an internet appliance, a desktop computer, etc., which most users would already have in their possession. Such a second display is a significant complement to an IPTV because of the second display's strength in supported languages and character font sets, flexible user interface, data entry, processing power, and user experience in content management.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2011
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
Abstract: Remotely testing a client device, the method including: implementing an interface of a messaging and presence protocol; starting a connection of the messaging and presence protocol between the client device and a server; initiating a test to execute steps of the test over the messaging and presence protocol connection; indicating information regarding results of the test to send over the messaging and presence protocol connection. Key words include remote testing and XMPP.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 1, 2013
Publication date:
September 4, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, SONY CORPORATION
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, Aran Sadja, Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring activity of a device. The method includes associating one or more monitoring devices with an electronic device. Rules that have been established to define acceptable content that can be accessed by the electronic device are accessed. Requested content, which is requested by the electronic device, is identified. The requested content is compared to the established rules. An alert condition is generated when the requested content violates the established rules.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 25, 2013
Publication date:
August 28, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, SONY CORPORATION
Inventors:
Charles MCCOY, True XIONG, Ling Jun WONG
Abstract: A method and system for monitoring biometric data. The method includes authenticating a user and providing content to a user device associated with the user. Biometric data associated with the user is obtained and compared to one or more threshold values. A representation of the comparison is generated and provided to the user.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 25, 2013
Publication date:
August 28, 2014
Applicants:
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC, Sony Corporation
Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for sharing content between a plurality of electronic devices including identifying an event and detecting one or more electronic devices based on the identified event. Electronic content is obtained from one or more of the electronic devices related to the event and provided to one or more output devices based on a comparison.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2013
Publication date:
July 31, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, SONY CORPORATION
Inventors:
Thomas Dawson, Charles McCoy, James R. Milne, True Xiong, Trisha Yasuhara
Abstract: An apparatus and method for resuming playback of media content from more than one Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) device. The playback of a media asset or media content typically contains an asset ID and a start time. Based on the architecture of a second display device (e.g., a second IPTV device) the IPTV system determines the identity of an account and its associated IPTV devices. When a user pauses an asset, the system sends the asset identification (ID) and the stop time to a server operatively coupled to the system. The next time (within a predefined duration) the user requests the same asset ID, the pause time and the asset ID are returned. Using the pause time and the asset ID, the user can resume playback of the asset.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 22, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing playback of content. Some of these methods comprise: maintaining, at a playback device, a first media stream in a stand-by mode; continuing to acquire, from over a distributed network while in the stand-by mode, one or more index files of the first media stream, where the one or more index files identify a plurality of media files of the first media stream configured to be played back at the playback device, while not acquiring the media files of the first media stream while the first media stream is in the stand-by mode; and tracking the one or more index files relative to a playback timing f the first media stream while in the stand-by mode, where the playback timing continues to increment while the first media stream is in the stand-by mode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 8, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2012
Date of Patent:
July 1, 2014
Assignees:
Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
Inventors:
Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Ling Jun Wong
Abstract: Managing digital rights of contents and services streamed to a client device, including: receiving and validating a certificate from the client device; enabling the client device to log into and communicate with a server using a secure protocol to establish a private relationship between the client device and the server; and transmitting a resource identifier to the client device using the secure protocol when the private relationship is established.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 25, 2014
Publication date:
June 26, 2014
Applicants:
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, Sony Corporation
Inventors:
Leo Pedlow, True Xiong, Eric Holcomb, Kathy Fielder