Patents Examined by Cynthia M Fogg
  • Patent number: 11716512
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for displaying a guide for media content available on a user device. An illustrative method includes retrieving media content guide data for a plurality of channels, identifying a first media content item that is not available for retrieval from a content source, in response to identifying the first media content item, identifying a second media content item that is related to the first media content item and is available for retrieval from the content source, retrieving, from the content source, the second media content item, and generating for display a media content guide interface for the plurality of channels, wherein an identifier of the second media content item is displayed in a timeslot for the first media content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Brehm, Benjamin Harden
  • Patent number: 11711586
    Abstract: The systems and methods are described herein for playback of content based on progress point information. The systems and methods detect nearby media devices to transmit or request progress point information. Based on the communicated progress point information, the system may generate an option to play back content at a point within the content up to which content was last consumed. When content providers offer different versions of one content item and the user does not select to play back content from the content provider associated with the progress point information, the system determines a proper playback point in other content providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: David Wittke
  • Patent number: 11711574
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes: (i) determining a baseline input-to-output delay, which represents a time period between when content is input into a first input buffer and output by an output buffer; (ii) establishing a synchronous lock between (a) first fingerprint data representing content in the first input buffer and (b) second fingerprint data representing content in the output buffer; (iii) determining an instruction time-point at which a content-presentation device is instructed to switch from using content in the first input buffer to populate the output buffer, to using content in the second input buffer to populate the output buffer; (iv) determining a loss of synchronous lock time-point; (v) using the determined baseline input-to-output delay, the determined instruction time-point, and the determined loss of synchronous lock time-point to determine an input-buffer switching delay; and (vi) using the determined input-buffer switching delay to facilitate performing a content-modification operation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher, John L. Haynes, III
  • Patent number: 11678003
    Abstract: A system includes a primary playback system and a secondary playback system. The primary playback system plays back selected content. The secondary playback system monitors progress of the primary playback system playing back the content. Based on detected progress, the secondary playback system synchronizes playback of supplemental media (such as descriptive audio, closed caption text, etc.) associated with the content on a secondary playback system operated by a user. In response to detecting a scheduled advertisement window during playback of the content on the primary playback system, the secondary playback system discontinues playback of the supplemental media associated with the content on the secondary playback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Charter Communications Operating, LLC
    Inventors: John Sweet, Horatio Derrick Kipchoge Boothe, Cristian G. Vyhmeister
  • Patent number: 11671657
    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: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Akshay Chetan Shah, Padmassri Chandrashekar, Daina Emmanuel
  • Patent number: 11659259
    Abstract: A method that includes receiving a manifest associated with a video, wherein the manifest indicates an insertion point for a first ad break and the manifest comprises first ad break duration information indicating a duration of the first ad break. The method also includes: generating a modified manifest, wherein generating the modified manifest comprises inserting into the manifest at the insertion point first segment locator information for causing a player to request a number of segments, wherein the first segment locator information comprises a first uniform resource locator (URL) or URL template information for generating the first URL, and wherein the first URL includes a segment identifier, and further wherein the modified manifest comprises segment duration information specifying a segment duration associated with the segment identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PENTHERA PARTNERS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Pressnell, Scott Halpert
  • Patent number: 11653075
    Abstract: In general, in an aspect, second look advertising is enabled. During an original advertisement selection process at a network infrastructure, original-selection advertisements are selected for play back with a streaming format video on a viewer device. After the original advertisement selection process, the streaming format video is presented on the viewer device together with advertisements that are provided by a helper process and can include the original-selection advertisements or other advertisements or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PENTHERA PARTNERS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Pressnell, Scott Halpert, Brian Kline
  • Patent number: 11647240
    Abstract: There is described an apparatus for providing a recommendation to a first user, wherein the apparatus comprises: a processor arranged to: determine, at a first time, a first set of vectors for a plurality of users, including a vector associated with the first user; determine a set of clusters based on the first set of vectors; detect, at a second time, an event associated with the first user; determine an updated vector for the first user in dependence on the event; place the first user into a cluster of the set of clusters based on the updated vector; and determine a recommended item of content for the first user in dependence on the cluster; and a user interface and/or communication interface arranged to: output the recommendation and/or the recommended item to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Raters Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Tural Gurbanov, Rasim Aliyev, Jamil Abdullayev
  • Patent number: 11641506
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for presenting identifiers for media assets recommended to users identified using facial recognition. Each of a first and a second user in a vicinity of user equipment is identified, and a first recommended media asset and a second media asset are determined based on respective user profiles of the first user and the second user. A first identifier selectable to access the first recommended media asset and a second identifier selectable to access the second recommended media asset are generated for display, and a recommended media asset associated with a selected identifier is generated for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: Akitaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11606620
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for acquiring a virtual resource, including displaying an interactive interface of a second user in response to an access request of a first user for the interactive interface of the second user. A virtual resource state control is displayed on the interactive interface. A preview interface of a target multimedia resource posted by the second user is played in response to a trigger operation on the virtual resource state control by the first user in a case where the virtual resource state control indicates an available state. A preset quantity of virtual resources from virtual resources associated with the target multimedia resource is acquired in response to a trigger operation on the preview interface by the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING DAJIA INTERNET INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiarui Ren, Ying Shu, Jiaying Shao, Dongyang Yin, Jia Feng, Yongsheng Wang, Yizhao Geng, Quanquan Zhang, Kelindun Xue
  • Patent number: 11601724
    Abstract: The present disclosure can provide a method, an apparatus and a system for displaying comment information, a client, and a server. The client can determine a comment copywriting tag of a user account first, and then in response to a comment releasing instruction from the user account, obtain target comment information corresponding to the comment copywriting tag from a comment database, and release the target comment information in a comment interface of the user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Dajia Internet Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yin Yan, Qiuge Yang, Jun Cheng, Yulong Shi
  • Patent number: 11593444
    Abstract: A system for collecting data from different sources is described. In one example embodiment, the system obtains content-related data from a plurality of source computer systems, automatically identifies, based on the content-related data, content items having respective popularity values greater than a predetermined threshold value as popular content items, and automatically generates a list of popular content items based on the popular content items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: OPENTV, INC.
    Inventors: Alex Fishman, Crx K. Chai
  • Patent number: 11589112
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for determining reduction of interest in a content series and to increasing the interest upon such determination. This may be accomplished by a device monitoring consumption of a content series to determine a pattern of consumption. The device may identify a change in the pattern of consumption indicative of a reduction of interest and determine a reason for the reduction in interest. Based on the reason for the reduction of interest, the device may provide an operation, such as a spoiler, to increase interest in the content series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta, Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah
  • Patent number: 11581969
    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: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Nisarg A. Modi
  • Patent number: 11582518
    Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a corrupted segment in a media asset. The media guidance application determines that a segment of a media asset is corrupted. The media guidance application determines whether a retrieval period to retrieve an uncorrupted copy of the segment exceeds a threshold period. If the retrieval period does not exceed the threshold period, the media guidance application retrieves and generates for display the uncorrupted copy of the segment. If the retrieval period exceeds the threshold period, the media guidance application determines whether an importance level of the corrupted segment exceeds a threshold level. If the importance level exceeds the threshold level, the media guidance application generates for display a summary for the corrupted segment. If the importance level does not exceed the threshold level, the media guidance application generates for display the subsequent segment and the summary for the corrupted segment in an overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah, Vikram Makam Gupta
  • Patent number: 11570525
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems related to production of a movie, a TV show or a multimedia content are described. In one example aspect, a system for producing a multimedia digital content includes a pre-production subsystem configured to receive information about a storyline, cameras, cast, and other assets for the content from a user. The pre-production subsystem is configured to generate one or more machine-readable scripts that include information about one or more advertisements. The system includes a production subsystem configured to receive the one or more machine-readable scripts from the pre-production system to obtain a footage according to the storyline. The production subsystem is further configured to embed one or markers corresponding to the one or more advertisements in the footage. The system also includes a post-production editing subsystem configured to detect the one or more markers embedded in the footage and replace each of the one or more markers with a corresponding advertising target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: WeMovie Technologies
    Inventors: Xiubo Wu, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 11558676
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to synthesize reference media signatures based on constituent media signatures generated by metered media devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a collector to collect first constituent media signatures from a first media device that identify a first portion of media, a collector to collect second constituent media signatures from a second media device that identify a second portion of the media, and a synthesizer to combine the first constituent media signatures from the first media device and the second constituent media signatures from the second media device to form a reference media signature that represents the media, the reference media signature for comparison with third constituent media signatures collected from a third media device to detect consumption of the media at the third media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Albert T. Borawski, Daniel Nelson, Vinay Chauhan
  • Patent number: 11550951
    Abstract: Blockchain-enabled crypto asset systems and a Digital Social Recorder system are operable within a computer network environment for allowing a user to control how advertisers access the user's personal data; allowing crypto asset compensation in exchange for social amplification; and tracking asset allocation. Payments made via blockchain tracking, and the distribution of any revenues derived from cost savings provided to terrestrial, satellite or digital radio broadcasters back to music rights holders and other related groups are provided. These rights holders typically like to incentivize consumers, and by using the crypto assets or tokens created by the present invention, a reward for listening/consuming may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Inspired Patents, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Leekley, Alexander Savenok, Pavel Savenok
  • Patent number: 11546663
    Abstract: Provided are a video recommendation method and apparatus. The video recommendation method comprises obtaining a related video of a target video and a video cover associated with the related video, obtaining a video cover set, and sending to a server. The server can add different video covers to the target video on the basis of the video cover set, and recommend the target video to different user groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING DAJIA INTERNET INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhipu Zhao
  • Patent number: 11540017
    Abstract: A method of recommending media items to a user is provided. The method includes receiving historical data for a user of a media providing service. The historical data indicates past interactions of the user with media items. The method includes generating a model of the user. The model includes a first set of parameters, each of the first set of parameters quantifying a predicted latent preference of the user for a respective media item provided by the media providing service. The method includes evaluating the predicted latent preferences of the user for the respective media items against the historical data indicating the past interactions of the user with the media items provided by the media providing service. The method includes selecting a recommender system from a plurality of recommender systems using the model of the user, including the first set of parameters. The method includes providing a media item to a second user using the selected recommender system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Dmitrii Moor, Rishabh Mehrotra, Mounia Lalmas-Roelleke