Patents Examined by Alfonso Castro
  • Patent number: 11910040
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using packager systems for streaming. The packager system including packagers configured to process packets, each packager having a packet listener, a sequence list generator, and a segment generator; and at least one cluster controller including a manifest generator. The at least one cluster controller configured to configure a packager from the packagers as an active packager by enabling a packet listener, a sequence list generator, and a segment generator, configure a remaining packager from the packagers as a backup packager by disabling a segment generator, receive segments, sequence list, and metadata based on processed packets from the active packager, generate, via the manifest generator, a manifest based on the segments, the sequence list, and the metadata, and send the segments and the manifest to a streaming system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Charter Communications Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Moin Pansare, Sachin Reddy Kota, David Agranoff, Vipul Patel
  • Patent number: 11889147
    Abstract: An electronic device and method are provided for display of signing video through an adjustable user interface (UI) element. The electronic device receives a first media stream that includes a video. The electronic device determines a location of a signer in the video. The electronic device extracts a video portion that corresponds to the determined location in the video. The electronic device controls a playback of the video on the display device. The electronic device controls the display device based on the playback to render the UI element on the display device and display the extracted video portion inside the UI element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Adam Goldberg, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 11856273
    Abstract: A satellite provider system receives a provider stream including break cue data. The satellite provider system generates adjusted break cue data by adjusting time stamps in the break cue data. The satellite provider system inserts the break cue data, the adjusted break cue data, and break description data into the provider stream in data packets all having a same packet identification. The satellite provider system broadcasts the provider stream from a satellite transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Percival
  • Patent number: 11855835
    Abstract: A cable distribution system includes a head end connected to a plurality of customer devices through a transmission network that includes a remote fiber node that converts digital data to analog data suitable for the plurality of customer devices, where the head end includes at least one server each of which includes a respective processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Santhana Chari, Kyoo Lee, David Grubb, David E. Virag, Thomas J. Cloonan, Mircea Orban, Michael J. Emmendorfer, Shawn Warner
  • Patent number: 11818421
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and a device for switching media service channels, which minimize the time required to detect the first I frame for a switch channel by utilizing a caching server when switching channels in an IP-based media service, such as IPTV, and at the same time, minimize the time required for synchronization by changing time information in caching information transmitted from the caching server, such that channel switching between media service channels can be performed more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: SK Telecom Co., Ltd., SK Broadband Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Boong Lee, Youn Kwon Kim, Sang Ho Bae, Gun Woo Kim, Jeong Mee Moon
  • Patent number: 11729458
    Abstract: A mobile device responds in real time to media content presented on a media device, such as a television. The mobile device captures temporal fragments of audio-video content on its microphone, camera, or both and generates corresponding audio-video query fingerprints. The query fingerprints are transmitted to a search server located remotely or used with a search function on the mobile device for content search and identification. Audio features are extracted and audio signal global onset detection is used for input audio frame alignment. Additional audio feature signatures are generated from local audio frame onsets, audio frame frequency domain entropy, and maximum change in the spectral coefficients. Video frames are analyzed to find a television screen in the frames, and a detected active television quadrilateral is used to generate video fingerprints to be combined with audio fingerprints for more reliable content identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Mihailo M. Stojancic, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Jose Pio Pereira, Oleksiy Bolgarov
  • Patent number: 11729448
    Abstract: The present invention is a system to manage interrupt notifications on an operating system based on the characteristics of content in which an end user is currently immersed or engaged. For example, relatively high bitrate video throughput is indicative of corresponding high information depth and more action occurring in the scene. For periods of high information depth, interrupt notifications are deferred until the information depth falls into a relative trough. Additional embodiments of the invention process scene transitions, technical cues, dialog and lyrics to release queued interrupt notification at optimal times. A vamping process is also provided when interrupt notification are released to keep the end user prescient to the background application in which they were engaged prior to the interrupt notification coming into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Welch, Matthew Gottsacker, Nahal Norouzi, Gerd Bruder
  • Patent number: 11722729
    Abstract: A computing system detects a channel multi-match with non-matching programs, based on fingerprint-based ACR analysis of digital fingerprint data representing a channel rendered by a content presentation device. The system then responsively performs disambiguation based at least in part on detecting an earlier single-channel match and/or a later single-channel match, the disambiguation establishing that the channel rendered by the content presentation device is the single known channel. And based on the disambiguation, the system then uses the single known channel as a basis for carrying out of at least one channel-specific operation, such as recording audience-measurement data and/or invoking dynamic content modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Raghavendra Sunku, Jaehyung Lee, Virginie Debelair, Peter Dunker
  • Patent number: 11700405
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate demographics of a household are disclosed. An example method to determine demographics for non-panelist households includes calculating a first demographic constraint average and a second demographic constraint average based on a first demographic distribution of a first tuning event of a household and a second demographic distribution of a second tuning event of the household. The household is a non-panelist household. The example method also includes, based on the first demographic constraint average, determining a first likelihood of the household being associated with a first demographic constraint. The example method also includes, based on the second demographic constraint average, determining a second likelihood of the household being associated with a second demographic constraint. The example method also includes estimating a household characteristic of the household based on the first likelihood and the second likelihood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Michael Sheppard, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Patent number: 11689766
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an interactive streaming application plays back a media title via a client device. In operation, while a client device plays back a first chunk of the media title, the interactive streaming application determines a first movement of an internet of things (“IoT”) device. The interactive streaming application then determines, from multiple target states, a target state that is associated with the first movement. Based on the target state, the interactive streaming application determines that a second chunk of the media title should be a next chunk of the media title that is streamed to the client device for playback. The interactive streaming application then causes the second chunk of the media title to be streamed to the client device. Advantageously, the interactive streaming application can automatically personalize the playback of the media title for a user based, at least in part, on movements of the IoT device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Erika Varis Doggett, Michael P. Goslin, Douglas A. Fidaleo
  • Patent number: 11687953
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to apply household-level weights to audience measurement data at a household-member level are disclosed. An example method to determine demographics of populations to measure media audiences of populations includes determining demographics for members of a first household of a sub-population. First demographics of a first member of the first household are different than second demographics of a second member of the first household. The example method includes calculating a first household-level weight for the first household based on a demographics distribution of the sub-population and aggregate demographics of a population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Patent number: 11689303
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for generating unified metadata for a plurality of distribution platforms. One or more processors in a broadcast provider system receive a linear media feed from a source device, and based on one or more inbound triggers associated with the received linear media feed, determines a plurality of segments of the received linear media feed. A unified metadata file comprising a universal schema of a plurality of category nodes and attributes for a plurality of distribution platforms is generated based on at least a programming schedule of the received linear media feed and an asset distribution interface (ADI) specification required by each of the plurality of distribution platforms. Further, a unified package is generated comprising the plurality of segments of the linear media feed as a broadcast media feed and the unified metadata file, and transmitted to the plurality of distribution platforms via a communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherilyn Brown, Ronald McGuire
  • Patent number: 11678031
    Abstract: A user interface (UI) includes a video display area for presenting video content, a text entry field, and a comment section. The UI also provides UI controls for enabling a user to select a portion of the video content and for generating a typed hyperlink in the text entry field that references the selected portion of the video content. A UI control for creating a new comment in the comment section of the UI that includes the typed hyperlink from the text entry field is also provided. A user can select a typed link in a comment and, in response thereto, the content type for the referenced portion of the video content can be determined based on data in the selected link. A preview of the portion of the video content can then be presented based upon the determined content type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Dongwook Yoon, Sol Sidney Fels, Matin Yarmand
  • Patent number: 11630996
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training and deploying machine-learned classification of radio frequency (RF) signals. One of the methods includes obtaining input data corresponding to the RF spectrum; segmenting the input data into one or more samples; and for each sample of the one or more samples: obtaining information included in the sample, comparing the information to one or more labeled signal classes that are known to the machine-learning network, using results of the comparison, determining whether the information corresponds to the one or more labeled signal classes, and in response, matching, using an identification policy of a plurality of policies available to the machine-learning network, the information to a class of the one or more labeled signal classes, and providing an output that identifies an information signal corresponding to the class matching the information obtained from the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James O'Shea, Tamoghna Roy
  • Patent number: 11606585
    Abstract: A video information periodic broadcasting method includes segmenting video information with an equal duration to obtain video segments Si of each time series, where i is the segment serial number of the video segments. The video segments Si are connected in series in an order of ascending the segment serial numbers. Segmenting each video segment Si with an equal duration to obtain video sub-segments Si,j of each time series, where the number of the video sub-segments Si,j of each time series is equal to the segment serial number of the video segments corresponding to the same time series, j is the sub-segment serial numbers of all the video sub-segments of the video segment. The video sub-segments Si,j are connected in series in an order of ascending the sub-segment serial numbers to form the video segment Si. Transmitting the video sub-segments through multiple periodic broadcasting channels with an equal bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: NANJING SUPERCOHESION COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO , LTD., TSINGHUA SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE SCHOOL
    Inventor: Xingjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11601719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of televisions, and provides a method for processing a television screenshot, a smart television, and a storage medium. To meet the demands of a more intuitive user interface and a seamless user interaction function, multiple sets of optional bars are displayed while displaying current playback content on a display screen in response to an input screenshot operation instruction, wherein optional bars are respectively used for displaying a picture thumbnail of a screenshot, recognizing content-related recommended content on the basis of an image of the screenshot, and/or responding to a user control instruction input interface for an operation associated with the screenshot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: JUHAOKAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sitai Gao, Zhitao Yu, Shan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11589127
    Abstract: Interactive multimedia package methods and systems are provided. An interactive multimedia package system may generate, manage, deliver, and/or play interactive multimedia packages with various digital media. An interactive multimedia package may be incorporated into any platform such as physical media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, etc.), web services (e.g., download, or streaming), and other applications. A user may shop directly off of the digital media that he or she is experiencing (e.g., watching a movie, viewing a digital news, reading an e-book, playing a video game, etc.) The user may be directed to an e-commerce website, a digital storefront, or a list of items associated with an object, by clicking on the object of interest in the digital media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Thatcher Thornburg Gellman
  • Patent number: 11558660
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to reduce false crediting of exposure to video-on-demand media assets. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a signature matcher to compare a sequence of monitored media signatures to sequences of reference signatures representative of corresponding reference media assets, the sequence of monitored media signatures included in monitoring data reported by a media device meter, the sequences of reference signature stored in a library of reference signatures. Disclosed example apparatus also include a matched assets counter to determine a count of ones of the reference media assets represented by corresponding ones of the sequences of reference signatures determined to match the sequence of monitored media signatures. Disclosed examples further include a credit determiner to determine whether to credit media exposure to a first one of the reference media assets based on the count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: David H. Wright, Daniel Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Derrick McCulley
  • Patent number: 11552720
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a transmission apparatus, and a data processing method that enable a frequency scan to be performed at a higher speed. The reception apparatus can receive a broadcast wave, perform the frequency scan on the broadcast wave on the basis of the number of providers information indicating the number of broadcasting providers providing a service in the same frequency band, and generate channel selection information for selecting the service, thereby enabling the frequency scan at a higher speed. The present technology is applicable to, for example, a receiver capable of receiving digital broadcasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventor: Jun Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11539987
    Abstract: One high-level aspect of a content-modification system and related methods may involve facilitating content modification by a content-presentation device of received broadcast content in a controlled manner, while under circumstances in which some events that can impact timing may be unpredictable. In particular, certain operations by a content-presentation device may involve matching received content with specific expected content as determined by one or another component of the content-modification system, in order to confirm proper conditions are met for the content-presentation device to proceed with, or continue, content-modification operations. It can happen the matching procedure becomes subject or susceptible to timing irregularities, or jitter. In some instances, jitter may impact the ability to derive the benefits of content modification. Accordingly, example embodiments herein are directed to systems and method for compensation and/or mitigating the effects of jitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Bruce William Randall, Brian Johnson, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Paul Jeffrey Holmquist