Patents Examined by Charles N Hicks
  • Content annotation tool
    Patent number: 10070170
    Abstract: A content annotation tool is disclosed. In a configuration, a portion of a movie may be obtained from a database. Entities, such as an actor, background music, text, etc. may be automatically identified in the movie. A user, such as a content producer, may associate and/or provide supplemental content for an identified entity to the database. A selection of one or more automatically identified entities may be received. A database entry may be generated that links the identified entity with the supplemental content. The selected automatically identified one or more entities and//or supplemental content associated therewith may be presented to an end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Henry Will Schneiderman, Michael Andrew Sipe, Marco Paglia, Mikkel Crone Köser
  • Methods and systems for launching multimedia applications based on device capabilities
    Patent number: 10057647
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for determining which of two multimedia devices to use when launching an Internet multimedia application. A user may interact directly with a first device and select an application from the first device. The first device will determine whether the selected application is present on a second device and whether the capabilities of the second device make it a better choice for launching the selected application. If the first device is chosen, multimedia data is transmitted from the first device though the second device to a display. If the second device is chosen, the first device sends a command to the second device to launch the selected application and multimedia data is sent from the second device to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Stefano Marconcini, David D. Shoop
  • Apparatus and method for resuming playing of media source, and smart television
    Patent number: 10051334
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus and method for resuming playing of a media source, where if a smart televisions switches from a first media source to a second media source, then buffered video data after the position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched will be obtained and stored. Since the buffered video data can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time of the media source, if the smart television switches from the second media source back to the first media source, then the buffered video data will be played, and playing of the first media source will be resumed from the end position of the buffered video data in the media source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: HISENSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION, HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Liming Ma
  • Methods and systems for determining user engagement based on user interactions during different advertisement slots
    Patent number: 10051326
    Abstract: 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 a first advertisement slot. A second advertisement slot, that overlaps the first advertisement slot, is selected and second record of a second plurality of user inputs received during the second advertisement slot, including input type, is retrieved. A level of user engagement for the first advertisement slot is determined based on the comparison between the first record and the second record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Maughan, Paul Stathacopoulos, Sean Matthews
  • Individualized dynamic insertion of secondary content in live streaming
    Patent number: 10034046
    Abstract: During a live stream of a main content to a user, a biometric response of the user is measured during a first streamed portion of the main content. The biometric response is analyzed to detect an event in the first streamed portion of the main content. The biometric response of the user during the event indicates that the event is a user-specific climactic event. Based on the analysis, a user-specific set of feature values is computed that are representative of the user-specific climactic event in the first streamed portion of the main content. A user-specific non-climactic period is forecasted in a future portion of the live stream during which a likelihood of an occurrence of any user-specific climactic event is below a threshold likelihood. A secondary content is inserted during the user-specific non-climactic period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Baryla, Aaron K. Baughman, Mauro Marzorati, Ahmed M. Nassar
  • Extracting data from advertisement files for ad insertion
    Patent number: 10015530
    Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a multimedia file including a first video file encrypted with a first compression algorithm and converting the first video file to a second video file, which is encrypted with a second compression algorithm. The method includes extracting, from the second file, video data indicative of at least one video characteristic of the second file and displaying the video data on a display screen or forwarding the video data to a content insertion server. The first video compression algorithm may be a MPEG-2 video compression algorithm and the second video compression algorithm may be an H.264 algorithm and/o an H.265 algorithm. The video data may include run time data indicative of a run time of the second video file, frame rate data indicative of a frame rate of the second video file, and pixel data indicative of a resolution of the second video file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Todd W. Jones, Shauna Adams, James Morgan, Thomas Paterson
  • Augmented reality content recommendation
    Patent number: 9998790
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 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
  • Quantifying brand visual impact in digital media
    Patent number: 9973789
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for receiving a set of frames, each frame being provided as a digital image that depicts a portion of an event and a logo associated with a brand, for each frame in the set of frames, and for each pixel in a frame: determining a weight of the pixel based on a distribution assigned to the frame, providing a quality of the logo depicted in the frame, and calculating a pixel quotient based on the weight and the quality, for each frame in the set of frames: determining a frame quotient at least partially based on a sum of all pixel quotients for the frame, and determining an impact indicator for the logo based on a total size of digital media comprising the set of frames and a sum of frame quotients of the frames in the set of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Ran Bittmann, Michael Kemelmakher, Yuri Arshavski
  • Universal services multiplexer and time-based interleaving of multiple streams
    Patent number: 9967601
    Abstract: Interleaving multiple streams of data using a universal services multiplexer is followed by conveying a time interleaved multiplexer stream to a remote QAM module. A universal services multiplexer interleaves multiple streams of data into a time interleaved multiplexer stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Aurora Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Field, Javier A Solis, Rei Chen Brockett, Dave Baran
  • Systems and methods for detecting and removing traceable identifying audio content from media content
    Patent number: 9953657
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and removing traceable identifying audio content from electronic media content. One method includes: receiving, over a network, media content to be broadcast or distributed, the media content including audio data; determining whether the audio data of the media content includes traceable identifying audio content defined by an audio identifier; generating new audio data based on the audio data of the media content when an audio identifier is determined to be include in the audio data; removing audio data from the media content when the audio identifier is determined to be include in the audio data; adding the new audio data to the media content when the audio data is removed from the media content; and broadcasting or distributing the media content having the new audio data to one or more user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Oath (Americas) Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Mitchell Demsey, Jay Crystal
  • Synchronizing video content with extrinsic data
    Patent number: 9930415
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for associating and synchronizing extrinsic data with video content at particular points of time in the video content. In one embodiment, a user interface is rendered that facilitates an entry of a corresponding score for at least one of a plurality of extrinsic data items that are associated with a video content feature that is currently being presented to a first user. The corresponding score of a particular extrinsic data item of the plurality of extrinsic data items is received through the user interface. A time in the video content feature that is currently being presented to the first user is determined. The particular extrinsic data item is rendered on an electronic display at the time during another presentation of the video content feature to a second user based at least in part on the corresponding score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: IMDB.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Andrej Gregov, Francis J. Kane, Douglas M. Treder
  • Social sharing and unlocking of reactions to content
    Patent number: 9866902
    Abstract: Viewers of a video content item may provide reaction videos, that show the viewer's reactions to a content item while the viewers view the content item. The reaction videos may be provided to a friend, or other member of a social circle of the viewers, when the friend views the content item. The reaction videos may be locked until the friend provides consent to have his or her reaction captured while watching the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Flores, Devin Blong, Tushar Chaudhary, Manish Sharma
  • Automatic channel changing auxiliary device and automatic channel changing method thereof
    Patent number: 9854300
    Abstract: A device providing an automatic channel changing function includes: a receiving unit, receiving recommended program data, first user data and second user data from a first AV playing device; a storage unit, storing reference data; a look-up unit, generating channel changing data according to the recommended program data, the first user data, the second user data and the reference data; and a transmitting unit, transmitting the channel changing data to a second AV playing device according to the second user data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Wen Wang
  • Methods, systems, and media for identifying and presenting users with multi-lingual media content items
    Patent number: 9848215
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for identifying and presenting users with multi-lingual media content items are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Marcel Phillip Gordon
  • Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program and information processing system
    Patent number: 9843838
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus receives a user selection of content to be reproduced by an external device connected to the information processing apparatus. A request to reproduce the user selected content is sent to the external device. Information indicating whether the external device has started reproducing the selected content is received from the external device. In response to the external device having started reproduction of the selected content, a thumbnail image is reproduced that corresponds to the content being reproduced by the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Hiroi, Yukio Ichikawa, Yumi Sato, Marie Suzuki, Yasushi Nakajima, Hiroshi Nagatani, Masahiro Hara, Hiroshi Horiki, Kouhei Fujimoto, Takeshi Matsuzawa, Hiroyuki Mitsubori, Sakae Houjou, Mingshan Yang
  • Updating content libraries by transmitting release data
    Patent number: 9838733
    Abstract: There are many boxes (e.g., set-top boxes) in a system offering media services to users. Each of the boxes maintains a library with a significant number of titles. Techniques for updating the library in each of these boxes using a transmission infrastructure are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a service provider is provided with a high bandwidth broadcasting or multicasting capability, a release fragmented into a header and several segments is transmitted to all boxes that are respectively configured to receive a proper release package to update the library. Alternatively, separate release packages may be transmitted via different channels to the boxes, wherein each of the boxes is tuned to a proper channel to receive a proper release package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: VUDU, INC.
    Inventors: Prasanna Ganesan, Shahriyar Matloub, Anthony Miranz, Alain Rossmann
  • Reduce blue light at set-top box to assist with sleep
    Patent number: 9832530
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method, system, or computer-readable storage device including instructions for reducing the blue light component of displayed video can include one or more of the following features: receiving, at a set-top box, a video signal having a white color balance, the white color balance including a red component value. The set-top box can determine that the current time is after a threshold night value and before a threshold morning value and, based on that, adjust the white color balance of the video signal to increase the red component value. The set-top box can then transmit the video signal with the adjusted white color balance to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Simon Branton-Housley
  • Associating video content with geographic maps
    Patent number: 9817895
    Abstract: A system and method for associating videos with geographic locations is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module, a location module, a tagging module and a database association module. The communication module receives a video uploaded by a content provider and a set of video data describing the video. The location module determines that the video describes a geographic location included in a geographic map based at least in part on the video data. The tagging module determines one or more travelling tags for the video based at least in part on the video data. The database association module associates the video and the one or more travelling tags with the geographic location so that the video with the one or more travelling tags is included in the geographic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Huazhong Ning, Hrishikesh Aradhye
  • Systems and methods for transmitting a portion of a media asset containing an object to a first user
    Patent number: 9807465
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for transmitting a portion of a media asset containing an object to a user. In many media assets, specific features appear at portions of a program that users find interesting. These features can be compared with a database of stored objects that commonly appear in media assets to determine the object corresponding to the feature. The system may store data related to the media asset containing the object and, if the user is not currently accessing the media asset, may transmit the data to the user's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen E. Roe, Michael K. McCarty
  • Method and apparatus for satellite television service with alternate delivery capabilities
    Patent number: 9800915
    Abstract: A distribution system for transmitting media content programs to premises equipment via a satellite transmission path addresses signal degradation caused by atmospheric conditions and other factors. Upon detection of a degradation of the satellite signal, the system may begin transmitting the content using an alternative signal path, such as a terrestrial IP network. The satellite transmission path is brought back on line after the satellite link is restored. Alternatively, the system may begin recording the signal in the media distribution system for transmission via the satellite link after the link is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Gilboy, Matthew Pitz