Patents Examined by Charles N Hicks
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Patent number: 11297392Abstract: Systems and methods for a media content user interface. A media content provider includes storage for storing and serving video content to subscribers. The media content provider records and or otherwise stores video content from around the world. Subscribers are provided a user interface to the system that includes a side bar. The user interface provides context sensitive hints to assist the viewer. The system also tracks a viewer's viewing history in a manner that allows the viewer to review and directly access any part of that history. Finally, magnetic points are created for use during video scrubbing to intelligently select relocation points for the current playback position.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gregory N. Christie, Alessandro Sabatelli, William M. Bachman, Imran Chaudhri, Jeffrey Robbin, Jim Young, Joe Howard, Marcel Van Os, Patrick L. Coffman, Stephen O. Lemay, Jeffrey Ma, Lynne Kress
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Patent number: 11277657Abstract: Systems and methods are described for customizing a display of media asset information based on a user preference profile. In particular, media asset description information is customized by changing a term to a synonym that matches an event or keyword in the user preference profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.Inventors: Alexis Yelton, Abhijeet Sharma, Peter Boonstra
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Patent number: 11277651Abstract: Methods and systems for accessing content are provided. A non-tunable device (e.g., a device without the capability to tune to a particular channel) can access a particular channel via a tunable device (e.g., a device with the capability to tune to the particular channel). A computing device can facilitate content tuning. In an aspect, the non-tunable device can transmit a request for content to the computing device. The request for content can comprise a title of the content, a type of content, channel information, and the like. Upon receiving the request for content, the computing device can determine the characteristics of the non-tunable device such as device type, device capabilities, location, and identify all the tunable devices capable of communicating with the non-tunable device. Entitlement information can be provided to the one or more tunable devices. The entitlement information can facilitate access to the requested content by the non-tunable device.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Slade Mitchell, John Robinson
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Patent number: 11245936Abstract: Various arrangements for performing dynamic content insertion are presented. A user profile may be identified as active at a television receiver based on the user profile being mapped to a current television viewing session. A plurality of content items that have been output for presentation while the user profile is active may be tracked across a plurality of television viewing sessions. A set of insertion rules may be evaluated that are mapped to a content item. The content item may be determined to have met an output threshold for the user profile. An alternative piece of content may be selected for insertion based on the set of insertion rules and determining that the content item has met the output threshold for the user profile. The television receiver may be triggered to substitute the alternative content item into a television channel stream to replace the content item.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventor: Robert Drew Major
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Patent number: 11227024Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing collaborative comments on content to create and/or modify content are disclosed herein. Each of the plurality of comments include modifying the content. Each of the plurality of comments are is analyzed to identify an action associated with each of the plurality of comments, location of the action in the content, and an owner associated with the action. Furthermore, a marker associated with the action at the identified location in the content is added.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Siddhartha Pande, Deviprasad Punja, Madhusudhan Srinivasan
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Patent number: 11218781Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a bid request that indicates a television channel associated with a video stream requested by an end user device and that includes ad space information associated with an ad space of the video stream, where the video stream being requested is an Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming service that provides scheduled content. Context information can be accessed according to the television channel and according to a time associated with the ad space, where the context information describes the video stream and is generated by a context server. An auction is performed to obtain bid responses, where the auction provides bidders with context data that is representative of at least a portion of the context information, and where selection of the candidate bid responses enables a determination of a creative for the ad space of the video stream. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Xandr Inc.Inventors: Samuel Marshall, Sebastien Caubet
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Patent number: 11216740Abstract: The various implementations described herein include systems and methods for determining that media items are currently being presented. In one aspect, a method performed at a client device includes: (1) identifying a media item potentially being presented on an output device coupled to the client device; (2) calculating a level of confidence that the identified media item is currently being presented to the user; (3) subsequent to the calculating, determining that at least one predetermined event associated with user interaction with the media item has occurred; and (4) based on the at least one predetermined event, increasing or decreasing the level of confidence that the identified media item is currently being presented to the user.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventor: Vincent Dureau
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Patent number: 11218768Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program enabling an enhanced sense of unity between a performer and a viewer. The information processing device includes a viewer information acquisition unit that acquires specific viewer information input from a viewer who views a distributed moving image, a performer information acquisition unit that acquires specific performer information input from a performer who performs in the moving image, an emotion recognition unit that recognizes an emotion on a basis of at least one of the viewer information and the performer information, and a control unit that controls an addition of an effect based on the emotion. The present technology is applicable to a distribution system that distributes moving images, for example.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Rio Yamasaki, Masafumi Kakisaka
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Patent number: 11184682Abstract: A system and method includes operations and steps for inferring a demographic of a user based on a selection of an advertisement by the user. A media device stream is received from a media device by data processing hardware. The data processing hardware may identify frames of the media device stream for insertion of an overlay. The overlay can include first and second interactive portions corresponding to respective first and second advertisements. The user can select one of the first interactive portion and the second interactive portion corresponding to one of the first advertisement and the second advertisement. The selection can be received by the data processing hardware, and the demographic of the user can be inferred based on the selection.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: ROKU, INC.Inventor: Richard Smith
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Patent number: 11173840Abstract: An electronic mirror apparatus includes: a camera provided on a lateral surface of a vehicle, the camera being configured to pick up an image of a predetermined pickup range in a vehicle lateral direction and in a vehicle rearward direction; a display device disposed at such a position that a driver visually recognizes the display device; and an electronic control unit configured to perform a process for displaying the image picked up by the camera, on the display device, the electronic control unit being configured to display, on the image, an assist image expressing at least one of an outer part of a region where the vehicle occupies a road surface in planar view of the vehicle and an outside position a predetermined distance away from the outer part of the region where the vehicle occupies the road surface in planar view of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohta Watatsu, Katsuji Gouzu, Tomoyuki Yoshida
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Patent number: 11172253Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for determining a level of user engagement based on user interactions. A media guidance application is configured to retrieve a first record of a first plurality of user inputs, including input type, received during consumption of a media asset. A second time interval, prior to the first time interval, is selected by shifting the first start time and the first end time. A second record of a second plurality of user inputs received during the second time interval, including input type, is retrieved. A first media asset consumed during the first time interval and a second media asset consumed during the second time interval are determined, and the level of user engagement for the first media asset is determined based on the first record and the second record.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin H. Maughan, Paul Stathacopoulos, Sean Matthews
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Patent number: 11166082Abstract: Allocating streaming content on a hybrid network can include searching for streaming content broadcast via broadcast signals over a broadcast network as a communications device is receiving the streaming content via a cellular network. Responsive to identifying, based on the searching, a within-range broadcast source broadcasting the streaming content via broadcast signals, the communications device can begin receiving the streaming content via the broadcast signals over the broadcast network and cease receiving the streaming content via the cellular network.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Craig Anthony Farrell, Peter Guglielmino, Michael Edward Alexander, Stephen A. Laufer, Michael William Clanton, Fabien Lanne, Zygmunt Lozinski
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Patent number: 11153654Abstract: An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.Inventor: Thomas E. Westberg
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Patent number: 11146857Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing streamlined access to media assets of interest to a user. The method includes determining that a supplemental viewing device, through which a user views a field of view, is directed at a first field of view. The method further involves detecting that the supplemental viewing device is now directed at a second field of view, and determining that a media consumption device is within the second field of view. A first media asset of interest to the user that is available for consumption via the media consumption device is identified, and the supplemental viewing device generates a visual indication in the second field of view. The visual indication indicates that the first media asset is available for consumption via the media consumption device, and the visual indication tracks a location of the media consumption device in the second field of view.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan A. Logan, Alexander W. Liston, William L. Thomas, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Margret B. Schmidt, Mathew C. Burns, Ajay Kumar Gupta
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Patent number: 11115612Abstract: A solid-state image sensor and an image capture apparatus are provided that can realize image acquisition and distance measurement while restraining the circuit scale from increasing. The solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including a sensor unit that generates a pulse with a frequency that is based on a reception frequency of a photon, and a counter that can operate in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of a signal generated by the sensor unit, and a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal that is based on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from a light emitting unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Satoshi Kumaki
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Patent number: 11102548Abstract: An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventor: Thomas E. Westberg
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Patent number: 11064180Abstract: Systems and methods which provide Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based synthesized view quality enhancement for video coding are described. Embodiments may comprise an encoder configured for CNN based synthesized view quality enhancement configured to provide improved coding efficiency while maintaining synthesized view quality. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments may comprise a virtual viewpoint generator configured for CNN based synthesized view quality enhancement configured provide post-processing of the synthesized view at the decoder side to reduce the artifacts. CNN based synthesized view quality enhancement may, for example, be provided for 3D video coding to improve its coding efficiency, which can be utilized in 3D scenarios, such as 3DTV.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: City University of Hong KongInventors: Tak Wu Sam Kwong, Linwei Zhu, Yun Zhang
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Patent number: 11039196Abstract: A method for displaying a screen shot, and a display device are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Hisense Visual Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yansong Fu, Hu Song, Shanjuan Bao, Youping Fu, Yuqian Li
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Patent number: 11030717Abstract: Systems and methods for providing panoramic image and/or video content using multi-resolution stitching. Panoramic content may include stitched spherical (360-degree) images and/or VR video. In some implementations, multi-resolution stitching functionality may be embodied in a spherical image capture device that may include two lenses configured to capture pairs of hemispherical images. The capture device may obtain images (e.g., representing left and right hemispheres) that may be characterized by 180-degree (or greater) field of view. Source images may be combined using multi-resolution stitching methodology. Source images may be transformed to obtain multiple image components characterized by two or more image resolutions.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Balineedu Chowdary Adsumilli, Adeel Abbas
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Patent number: 11012725Abstract: A replay method of live videos, includes: receiving a replay request sent by a platform control server, the replay request being directed to a specified video file in a storage server, wherein the specified video file is obtained after a live streaming server records a live video, and the specified video file is uploaded to the storage server by the live streaming server; retrieving, from the storage server, the specified video file to which the replay request is directed; and converting the specified video file to a live video stream, and transmitting the live video stream to the live streaming server to allow the live streaming server to transmit the live video stream to a user client.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: WANGSU SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Xi Cai, Longshi Cai