Patents Assigned to Viacom International Inc.
  • Patent number: 10175897
    Abstract: A data server, method and computer readable storage medium for receiving a current request relating to a data archive, determining a number of queued requests relating to the data archive present in a request queue, determining a waiting time for the current request based on the number of queued requests and adding the current request to the request queue after the waiting time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Richard Torpey
  • Patent number: 10165315
    Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses, systems and methods for predicting audience measurements of a television program. A method comprises inputting a target program for acquisition into a prediction model, wherein the prediction model is based on a plurality of television acquisition performance predictors, and generating a recommendation as to whether the target program should be acquired based on the prediction model and the plurality of television acquisition performance predictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Epstein, Fabio Luzzi
  • Patent number: 10165316
    Abstract: A device, system, and method synthesizes personalized linear television experiences from on-demand assets, live event video, streaming graphics, and dynamic ad insertion, where portions of the broadcast day are scheduled for globally shared viewing events, where other portions are scheduled for distinct programming for various audience segments. Vector graphics are streamed independently of the video and rasterized locally to improve quality and contextualization of the graphics layer while gaining the efficiency of leveraging the same cached video assets for linear and on-demand applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Glenn Goldstein
  • Patent number: 10032307
    Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses, systems and methods for generating an interactive three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) environment using virtual depth. A method comprises receiving a pre-rendered media file comprising a plurality of frames, receiving depth data related to the media file, wherein the depth data corresponds to each of the plurality of frames, creating an invisible three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) framework of a first frame of the media file based on the corresponding depth data, and rendering a new first frame in real time to include the pre-rendered first frame, one or more virtual visible 3D objects and the invisible 3D framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Tamer Eskander, Isaac Steele
  • Patent number: 10002638
    Abstract: A system and method that time delays a playback from a first feed at a first time to a second feed at a second time. The method includes recording the first feed that is received at the first time to be used at least partially as a playback of the second feed at the second time. The second time has a predetermined delay relative to the first time. The method includes determining whether the first feed has a discrepancy in the actual playback from a desired playback. The discrepancy is at a known time and lasting a known time amount. The method includes transmitting the playback to the second feed after the predetermined delay. A fix is aired instead of the playback for the known time amount corresponding to the discrepancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Jeff Hess, Scott Donahy
  • Patent number: 9924214
    Abstract: An avail comparator and method validates scheduled avail tones. The method includes receiving an automation playlist indicating at least one scheduled avail tone configured to be included in a broadcast. The method includes receiving a feed corresponding to the broadcast. The method includes receiving a signaling for each of the at least one scheduled avail tone based upon the automation playlist. The method includes determining whether the at least one scheduled avail tone was triggered in the broadcast based upon the corresponding signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Christopher Fulton Hundersmarck, Scott Charles Findling, Michael J. McMackin
  • Patent number: 9911142
    Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for centralized deployment of advertising code. Advertising code is stored for use by a web page, the advertising code comprising at least one of vendor advertising code or vendor reporting code. An application programming interface is provided for the web page to access the advertising code, the application programming interface allowing the advertising code to be updated such that updated advertising code is automatically provided to the web page without changing source code that the web page uses to accesses the advertising code. A request for advertising code is received from the web page using the application programming interface. The advertising code is determined to be a most recently updated version of advertising code stored by the computing device. A response to the request can be generated using the advertising code. The response can be transmitted to the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dale Hannon, Josef Blazej, Mark A. Cohen, Saravanan Kathiresan, Guy Laor, Roger Mayorga, Horace Nelson
  • Patent number: 9846549
    Abstract: A data server, method and computer readable storage medium for receiving a current request relating to a data archive, determining a number of queued requests relating to the data archive present in a request queue, determining a waiting time for the current request based on the number of queued requests and adding the current request to the request queue after the waiting time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Richard Torpey
  • Patent number: 9826286
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for capturing one or more image frames of a real-time streaming video using a wrapper module configured to function with a video player. The wrapper module is in electronic communication with a server. The method includes receiving, by the wrapper module, during streaming of the video by the video player, an indication from a user of a current viewing location in the video to initiate image capturing. The method includes capturing, by the wrapper module, one or more image frames from the video based on the indication of the current viewing location. The method also includes transmitting, by the wrapper module, the one or more captured image frames to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Johnson Tang, Sam Blake Hofsetter, Sarah Epler
  • Patent number: 9595040
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods for dynamic integration and presentation of advertising content and media content. The method includes receiving a request for media content from a remote computing device. The method also includes providing an interactive advertising unit, which comprises a first content layer including the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer including the advertising content, wherein the advertising content comprises video content and website content, and an integration module configured to display the video content to match the boundaries of the media player, extend the display area of the video content, reduce the display area of the video content after a period of time, display the website content in an area outside of the boundaries of the media player, and display the requested media content in the media player. The method also includes transmitting the interactive advertising unit for presentation on the remote computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Suzanne McDonnell, Adam Solomon, Mark Fortner
  • Patent number: 9557920
    Abstract: A data server, method and computer readable storage medium for receiving a current request relating to a data archive, determining a number of queued requests relating to the data archive present in a request queue, determining a waiting time for the current request based on the number of queued requests and adding the current request to the request queue after the waiting time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Richard Torpey
  • Patent number: 9514476
    Abstract: A musician discovery system is provided. The musician discovery system includes a first interface for displaying a plurality of musicians organized according to a musical characteristic. The system includes a second interface for presenting multimedia information about a first musician from the plurality of musicians displayed on the first interface. The system includes means for comparing a second plurality of musicians with the first musician using the multimedia information presented on the second interface about the first musician. Furthermore, the system includes a third interface for recommending a second musician from the second plurality of musicians based on the comparing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kay, Mark Mezrich, Daniel Shearer, Ryan Shafer
  • Patent number: 9342519
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for a media application including an interactive grid display. A method may comprise displaying a grid including a central hub and a plurality of spokes connected to the central hub, inserting a first media element on a first spoke of the grid, the first media element including a first timestamp and activating a first media file, inserting a second media element on the first spoke of the grid, the second media element including a second timestamp and activating a second media file, wherein the second media file is related to the first media file, comparing the first timestamp to the second timestamp, and arranging the presentation of the first and second media elements along the first spoke based on the compared first and second timestamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Evans, Darren Brelesky, Dhimiter Bozo, Pier Borra
  • Publication number: 20150195594
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for authenticating a user to access multimedia content, such as video content, over a user device. A method may comprise receiving a user request for a multimedia content service from a user device over a first application, receiving an identifier of the user device, identifying a service provider of a user, generating an activation code associating the identifier with the service provider, transmitting the activation code to the first application on the user device, receiving the activation code from the user over a second application, activating the multimedia content service for the user device based on the user activation input, and providing content from the multimedia content service to the user device over the first application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kimberly HICKS, Diana GERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150177913
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for discovering performance artists across multiple sources of relationships between the artists. A method may comprise receiving a user request for content of a primary artist from a user media device, identifying a social connection between the primary artist and a secondary artist within at least one social network, and providing to the user media device a user recommendation for content of the secondary artist based on the identified social connection between the primary and secondary artists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Vincenza Pizzo, Joel Sanders
  • Publication number: 20150161141
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for a media application including an interactive grid display. A method may comprise displaying a grid including a central hub and a plurality of spokes connected to the central hub, inserting a first media element on a first spoke of the grid, the first media element including a first timestamp and activating a first media file, inserting a second media element on the first spoke of the grid, the second media element including a second timestamp and activating a second media file, wherein the second media file is related to the first media file, comparing the first timestamp to the second timestamp, and arranging the presentation of the first and second media elements along the first spoke based on the compared first and second timestamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Matthew EVANS, Darren BRELESKY, Dhimiter BOZO, Pier BORRA
  • Patent number: 8984575
    Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for packaging media. In some embodiments, the technology relates to a computer-implemented method of packaging media files. A list of one or more media asset IDs is received by a media packaging server. A packaging template is received by the media packaging server. One or more media files based on a media asset ID in the list of the one or more media asset IDs and the packaging template are retrieved, by the media packaging server. Metadata associated with the media asset ID based on the packaging template is retrieved by the media packaging server. The one or more media files and the metadata are packaged by the media packaging server into a delivery package in a packaging format indicated by the packaging template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart Alan Frey, Vitaliy Vaysberg, Francis Henry Dillon, IV, Matthew Joseph Wood
  • Patent number: 8929718
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing online advertising is provided. The method includes providing, by a video delivery module, online video content to a user and maintaining, by a tracking module, a content consumption counter tracking an amount of time the user has watched the video content. The method also includes preventing, by a blocking module, the user from controlling playback of the video content if the content consumption counter satisfies a time characteristic. The method further includes providing, by an advertisement delivery module, a portion of an advertisement section to the user during the preventing. The duration of the portion of the advertisement section is dependent on the time characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Griffin, Glenn Goldstein, Brian Huss, Colleen Fahey Rush
  • Patent number: 8850504
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system that features retrieving, with a comparator module, a first characteristic of a first media asset and associated with a first media asset identifier from a media server storing a plurality of media assets. A second characteristic of a second media asset associated with a second media asset identifier from an archive server is retrieved with the comparator module. The comparator module is utilized to compare the first characteristic to the second characteristic based on an association of the first media asset identifier and the second asset media identifier. A report that includes an indication of the result of the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic is generated by the comparator module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg William Riedel
  • Patent number: 8752083
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses for dynamic integration and presentation of advertising content and media content. A server computing device receives a request for media content from a remote computing device. The server computing device provides, in response to the request, an interactive advertising unit which includes a first content layer with the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer with the advertising content, wherein the advertising content includes a virtual representation of an advertised product, and an integration module which displays the requested media content in the media player, displays the advertising content in the second content layer, wherein the virtual representation provides at least a portion of the functionality provided by the advertised product on which the virtual representation is based, and receives input associated with the functionality provided by the virtual representation from the remote computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Geer, III, Ellen To, Suzanne McDonnell, Adam Solomon, Joanne Levy