Patents Examined by Cynthia M Fogg
  • Patent number: 11979624
    Abstract: Content is received from a content origin and includes a first I frame occurring in the content at an actual start time of an ad segment. The content includes an ad marker comprising an indicated start time of an available segment, and the actual start time is within a predetermined period of the indicated start time. The ad marker is updated to set the indicated start time equal to the actual start time. The predetermined period may be within 0.5 seconds of the indicated start time. A second I frame may be detected in the content, and a signature may be generated for content at the time of the first I frame. The first I frame corresponds to the actual start time in response to the first I frame occurring before the second I frame and in response to the signature matching a signature of a known ad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Sling TV L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Drew Major
  • Patent number: 11974016
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for providing audio assistance during trick play. Users, for example, visually-impaired users, may enable audio assistance features for trick play operations and customize audio assistance settings. The audio assistance may comprise outputting one or more audio cues during trick play. The audio cues may be associated with one or more types of scenes may indicate the progress of a trick play content item. The audio cues may also indicate automatic skipping of an objectionable scene or commercial and the output of a next scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Gray
  • Patent number: 11968425
    Abstract: In systems and methods for enhancing group watch experiences, a first user's reaction is detected using multiple sensors, e.g., at least one camera and a microphone, and may be combined with context information to determine an action to perform at user equipment devices of other users participating in the group watch to convey the first user's reaction. Images from the at least one camera can be used to determine a portion of the screen to which the user's reaction is directed and/or another user to whom the reaction is directed. The reaction may be conveyed using one or more of an audio effect, a visual effect, haptic effect or text, e.g., to highlight the determined portion or user, display an icon and/or output an audio or video clip. A signal for providing haptic feedback may be transmitted to the user equipment device of the determined user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Akshay Chetan Shah, Padmassri Chandrashekar, Daina Emmanuel
  • Patent number: 11956487
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for activating a personalized user profile on a device based on the detection of an outlying user input. A media guidance application detects a user input that is inconsistent with an active user profile. In response, the media guidance application identifies a candidate user that both shares a location with the device and has a user profile consistent with the user input. The media guidance application activates the user profile of the candidate user as a temporary active user profile on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhusudhan Srinivasan, Gaurav Gandhi, Siddhartha Pande
  • Patent number: 11949949
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for performing content generation based on audience engagement. In some implementations, a method includes presenting a first portion of content. Engagement data is obtained for an audience comprising a plurality of persons while the first portion of the content is presented. Based on the engagement data, a collective engagement level of the audience is determined for the first portion of the content. A second portion of the content that has not been presented is adjusted based on the collective engagement level of the audience for the first portion of the content in order to satisfy an engagement threshold. After adjusting the second portion of the content, the second portion of the content is presented to the audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Jack Greasley, Philip Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 11949970
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide for novel boundary generation features for interleaving additional content into media content. Media content may be received which includes a video and audio portion. An unencrypted encode of the video portion may be generated. A first set of time stamps for the video portion may be generated using a computer vision algorithm. A second set of time stamps for the video portion may be generated for identifying IDR frames using a first algorithm. A third set of time stamps may be generated to serve as boundaries for interleaving additional content into the media content based on a priority algorithm that uses the first set of time stamps and the second set of time stamps. The video portion may be encoded using the third set of time stamps to determine the IDR frames for the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Yongjun Wu, Sitaraman Ganapathy, Vasanthakumar Soundararajan, Varun Chadha
  • Patent number: 11949950
    Abstract: An electronic device and a control method therefor are provided. The electronic device includes controller, multimedia playing apparatus and input apparatus both connected to the controller, the controller includes processor and memory, wherein program instructions stored in the memory are executed by the processor to perform operations including: in response to target operation of user, obtaining input information of user; determining session information on session in which user participates according to the input information, the session information including at least target content in which user participates; determining target playing progress and target playing speed factor for the target content; controlling the multimedia playing apparatus to play the target content according to the target playing progress and the target playing speed factor, the target playing speed factor being greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zijun Liu
  • Patent number: 11943504
    Abstract: An application programming interface (API) receives broadcast-related information from media automation applications. A traffic log is received from a first media automation application configured to generate a traffic log associated with a media station, and spot information associated with spots included in the traffic log is received from at least a second media automation application. The API stores the broadcast-related information, including the traffic log and the spot information, in one or more databases. The API also receives, from a media playout system, at least one request for the stored broadcast-related information. The media playout system is configured to insert media content into a media broadcast associated with the media station. The API provides the requested broadcast-related information to the media playout system, which inserts the media content into the media broadcast associated with the media station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Mills, Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, David C. Jellison, Jr., Vijay Jayakumar, Riad Edelbi, Adam Zastawski, José Antonio Carbajal Orozco
  • Patent number: 11929823
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method to be performed by a vehicle-based media system includes (a) receiving audio content; (b) causing one or more speakers to output the received audio content; (c) using a microphone of the vehicle-based media system to capture the output audio content; (d) identifying reference audio content that has at least a threshold extent of similarity with the captured audio content; (e) identifying visual content based at least on the identified reference audio content; and (f) outputting, via a user interface of the vehicle-based media system, the identified visual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Nisarg A. Modi
  • Patent number: 11930229
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a device with audio data, the method comprising the steps of: receiving from a device a request for audio data, wherein the request is received while the device is rendering a digital work, the digital work including video data. Determining audio data to send to the device in response to the request. Sending the determined audio data to the device together with computer readable instructions, wherein the computer readable instructions cause the device to: while continuing the rendering of the digital work on the device, suspend playback of first audio data currently playing on the device and playing the received audio data on the device. When the received audio data stops playing continuing with the rendering of the digital work on the device and resume playback of the first audio data previously playing on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AUDIOMOB LTD
    Inventors: Christian Facey, Wilfrid Obeng-Boakye
  • Patent number: 11930226
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for generating a scene emotion value for a scene based on a sequence of frame emotion values for a sequence of frames within the scene of a content. The content can include multiple scenes, and a scene can include multiple frames, where a frame emotion value can be generated for each frame. A frame emotion value can be generated based on scene metadata related to the scene, content metadata related to the content, and a frame metadata related to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronica Jethwa, Nam Vo, Fei Xiao, Abhishek Bambha
  • Patent number: 11924516
    Abstract: A video interaction method includes receiving a video posting operation for a first video, where the first video is a video shot by a first user by using a target prop, where the target prop is a preset type of shooting prop; in response to the video posting operation, posting the first video; in response to finishing posting the first video, acquiring information about the degree of completion of interaction between the first user and the target prop in the shooting process of the first video; determining a first target object corresponding to the first video according to information about the degree of completion of interaction; and paying the first target object to the account of the first user and displaying a first object information window of the first target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING ZITIAO NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Sun, Mengwan Hu, Yuanxiang Ye, Xinjing Ye, Xiaoyi Qiu
  • Patent number: 11917271
    Abstract: A playback application seamlessly advances playback of and interactive media title in response to user selections in a manner that minimizes latency and preserves user immersion in a narrative. The playback application buffers an interstitial segment included in the interactive media title and feeds portions of the interstitial segment to a media player only when those portions are needed for display. When the user selects an option displayed during the interstitial segment, the playback application begins buffering a subsequent media segment and stops feeding portions of the interstitial segment to the media player. The playback application starts feeding blocks of the subsequent media segment to the media player and then seamlessly advances playback to the subsequent media segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Watson
  • Patent number: 11917223
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content items belonging to a media content group are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Cagdas Evren Gerede, Vlad Berindei
  • Patent number: 11910061
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining emotional responses to videos, generating emotional arc based on the responses and reactions, and determining the type and/or point of insertion of secondary content based on the determined emotional responses are disclosed. The methods display primary content to a plurality of users and determine their emotional response as they consume the primary content. An average emotional arc is generated based on the determined emotional response and it is compared to a current emotional arc generated based on emotional response from a current user. When values of the current emotional are within a predefined range of the average emotional arc at a particular play position in the timeline of the primary content, a secondary content that is designated for the value of the current emotional arc is inserted in the primary content at the particular play position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Patent number: 11895372
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for utilizing a content recommendation system powering a streaming media publisher channel to enhance an ad creative being shown to the user via awareness or performance campaigns. This method allows the platform to present the most relevant exploratory personalized in-channel content to the publisher platform users in endemic banners that run on the platform which then correspondingly helps drive user reach. An example embodiment operates by implementing personalized content banners that may act as a hook for channel users opening their streaming device, both active and lapsed, to enter back into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Mehul Sanghavi, Rohit Mahto, Kelly Lee, Madhulika Taneja
  • Patent number: 11876604
    Abstract: A system and method to provide streaming video content to a screen of a smart electronic device in non-viewable form until a user agrees to view the video in exchange for an incremental amount of currency, at which time the streaming video content becomes viewable in pre-determined increments of time pre-paid for by the user of the smart device by interacting with the screen. The user can determine through the screen how many increments of viewable streaming of video content are desired to be purchased and viewed by interacting with the screen in a pre-determined way each time the streaming video content becomes non-viewable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua Jensen, Christopher Hopper
  • Patent number: 11871081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining emotional responses to videos, generating emotional arc based on the responses and reactions, and determining the type and/or point of insertion of secondary content based on the determined emotional responses are disclosed. The methods display primary content to a plurality of users and determine their emotional response as they consume the primary content. An average emotional arc is generated based on the determined emotional response and it is compared to a current emotional arc generated based on emotional response from a current user. When values of the current emotional are within a predefined range of the average emotional arc at a particular play position in the timeline of the primary content, a secondary content that is designated for the value of the current emotional arc is inserted in the primary content at the particular play position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Patent number: 11871084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for displaying subjects of a portion of content. Media data of content is analyzed during playback, and a number of action signatures are identified. Each action signature is associated with a particular subject within the content. The action signature is stored, along with a timestamp corresponding to a playback position at which the action signature begins, in association with an identifier of the particular subject. Upon receiving a command, icons representing each of a number of action signatures at or near the current playback position are displayed. Upon receiving user selection of an icon corresponding to a particular signature, a portion of the content corresponding to the action signature is played back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel C. Dalbec, Nicholas Lovell, Lance G. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 11849177
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing an action related to an identifier for a recommended media asset presented to a user, based on a detected emotional indicator of the user. The identifier for the initial recommended media asset is generated for presentation to the user, and one or more images of the user are captured while generating for presentation the identifier for the initial recommended media asset to the user. An emotional indicator of the user is detected based on the one or more captured images, and an action related to the identifier for the initial recommended media asset is performed based on the detected emotional indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Akitaka Nishimura