Patents Examined by James R. Marandi
  • Patent number: 11687386
    Abstract: There is included a method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a processor or processors to perform obtaining video data, creating, based on the video data, a timed metadata track indicating a segment bandwidth and comprising information of a plurality of aligned segments of a media adaptation set such that duration information and size information of each of the aligned segments are included in at least one metadata sample, switching to one of a plurality of representations of the video data based on whether the timed metadata track indicates at least an overflow to an input buffer per each of the plurality of representations, and delivering the one of the plurality of representations to a client as a part of an event stream and based on at least one mode indicated in the event stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TENCENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Iraj Sodagar
  • Patent number: 11689753
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for use of steganographically-encoded data as a basis to disambiguated a fingerprint-based channel-multimatch. A fingerprint-matching server or other entity could detect a channel-multi-match scenario by determining that query fingerprints representing media content being rendered by a content presentation device match reference fingerprints respectively representing multiple channels. In view of that detected channel-multi-match scenario, the content presentation device could then provide channel-identification information that the content presentation device extracts from a watermark that is steganographically encoded in the media content of the channel that the content presentation device is rendering, for use of the extracted channel-identification information to determine which channel the content presentation device is rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Shashank C. Merchant, Andrew L. Ashbacher
  • Patent number: 11683545
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a quality of experience (QoE) prediction application computes a visual quality score associated with a stream of encoded video content. The QoE prediction application also determines a rebuffering duration associated with the stream of encoded video content. Subsequently, the QoE prediction application computes an overall QoE score associated with the stream of encoded video content based on the visual quality score, the rebuffering duration, and an exponential QoE model. The exponential QoE model is generated using a plurality of subjective QoE scores and a linear regression model. The overall QoE score indicates a quality level of a user experience when viewing reconstructed video content derived from the stream of encoded video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Christos Bampis, Zhi Li
  • Patent number: 11659246
    Abstract: A media presentation and distribution system (MPDS) communicatively coupled to a client device, which handles media content distribution via a content delivery network, to a client device associated with a user: identifies candidate time intervals in programming media content played at the client device based on at least a request received from the client device. The MPDS retrieves media content from a media store in the MPDS. The media content is retrieved based on at least one of the user intent information and a plurality of targeting parameters associated with the user. The MPDS dynamically generates personalized media content that corresponds to the candidate time intervals in the programming media content and further instructs playback of the dynamically generated personalized media content at the identified candidate time intervals based on the specified version of the programming media content played at the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Jude Loheide, Matthew Paul Giles, Gregory McClain Stigall, Nishith Kumar Sinha, Cindy Loren Campbell, James J Arnzen, Nicolas Paul Webb
  • Patent number: 11659218
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing blackout restrictions. A user device may retrieve a blackout condition from a blackout device. The blackout device may be a node in plurality of blackout nodes. Each of the blackout nodes may store blackout conditions for different corresponding content. The user device may retrieve the blackout condition from a blackout device associated with content in response to a request for the content. The user device may determine whether information associated with the user device satisfies the blackout condition. If the information satisfies the blackout condition, the requested content may be blocked. Alternative content may be output instead of the requested content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Flanagan
  • Patent number: 11653057
    Abstract: A source electronic device may include first interface circuitry that transmits a data packet over a wireless link to a sink electronic device to present the data packet as part of a video stream. The source electronic device may also include encoder circuitry that encodes the data packet for transmission through the wireless link and a feedback path communicatively coupling the encoder circuitry directly to the first interface circuitry. The feedback path may transmit one or more feedback signals from the first interface circuitry to the encoder circuitry, bypassing a network layer, an encoder driver, or both. The encoder circuitry, the first interface circuitry, or both may adjust one or more transmission parameters associated with transmitting the data packet over the wireless link, based on the one or more feedback signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eran Sudak, Ran Katz, Sorin Constantin Cismas
  • Patent number: 11653062
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to determine audio source impact on an audience of media are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes at least one memory, instructions in the apparatus, and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: divide audio of monitored media into successive audio segments; perform speaker identification on the audio segments; generate confidence values for speakers identified in the audio segments; generate speaker identification data for ones of the speakers having respective confidence values that satisfy a threshold; and analyze the speaker identification data to determine a speaker impact on audience ratings data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Gregory Milavsky, Hashem Alsaket, James Bartelme, Jan Besehanic, Edward Stembier
  • Patent number: 11653059
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for preventing and/or discouraging access by children and/or other persons to restricted content and/or other information. Some users may have different hearing and may be able to hear sounds at different, for example higher, frequencies than other users. Users may also wish to discourage and/or prevent other users from consuming restricted content. A sound output at a high frequency may be used to disrupt the viewing experience of a user that is not permitted to consume restricted content. The high frequency sound may cause the user that is not permitted to consume restricted content to leave an environment where the content item is output. The high frequency sound may be inaudible to users that are permitted to consume restricted content. The high-frequency sound may discourage and/or prevent some users from consuming restricted content without disrupting the user experience of other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Kirkovich, John Bieberly, Nicholas Mandato, Christopher Weaver, James Rupert
  • Patent number: 11653055
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selecting one or more network-connected devices to provide device functions required by an event. A media guidance application may detect an event in which a user is currently engaged. The media guidance application may identify a set of device capabilities associated with the event. The media guidance application may search, within a plurality of network-connected devices of the user, to identify one or more devices that enable functions corresponding to the set of device capabilities to be perceptible to the user, and the media guidance application may instruct the identified one or more devices to provide the functions corresponding to the set of device capabilities associated with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Sara Dever, Jennifer L. Holloway, Daniel P. Rowan, Mark D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11647248
    Abstract: A method for initiating synchronized playback within a user interface by requesting a plurality of media data and processing the plurality of data so that the plurality of data is compatible with the user interface. A portion of the data from the plurality of data are stored in an overflow buffer while a source buffer processes the plurality of data. The method may continue by generating a metadata object to facilitate sync playback on the user interface by determining what data is in the source buffer of the user interface that needs to be removed and searching for data using a first time format that is not natively supported by the user interface and converting the first time format into a second time format that is natively supported by the user interface. The method also includes synchronizing between videos using a sync playback controller from the generated metadata object, wherein each video is represented as a sequence in the source buffer of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ARCUS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Thiemo Romey, Ari-Pekka Viitanen, Benjamin Player Rowe, Seungjin Kim
  • Patent number: 11641493
    Abstract: A method for displaying bullet screens can include: acquiring detection boxes by detecting human-body parts in a plurality of image frames in a target video; and determining a masked region of each of the image frames based on detection boxes in the each of the image frames and a ratio of the detection boxes in the each of the image frames in an image frame to which the detection boxes belong, wherein the client player does not display bullet screens in the masked region when playing the target video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING DAJIA INTERNET INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Canchao Duan, Jiong Li, Qian Li, Dongsheng Tong, Huaqing Yang, Xiaoyu Yin, Yan Li
  • Patent number: 11606623
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for presenting additional information related to an emergency alert. A media guidance application may detect that a new emergency alert has been received. The media guidance application may then perform a search of various content sources (e.g., program listings, the Internet, etc.) for content related to the emergency alert. The media guidance application may then present the search results in a contextual menu enabling the user to access content of the search results. The media guidance application may also provide more options, such as, recording or pausing media content that the user was in the process of consuming when the emergency alert was generated, and an option to the user not to bring up the contextual menu again if the same emergency alert is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Thomas Ward
  • Patent number: 11606622
    Abstract: A system for browsing, searching and/or viewing video content includes at least one user device and a server computer operably connected to the at least one user device. The server computer includes at least one processor operably connected to an electronic storage device, and the at least one processor is programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the server computer to present a first video on a user interface to the at least one user device, wherein the user interface presents scenes of the first video and semantic labels associated with the scenes of the first video, and wherein the user interface further presents confidence parameters associated with the scenes of the first video and the semantic labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Clarifai, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Zeiler, Adam L. Berenzweig, Christopher Yan
  • Patent number: 11601717
    Abstract: A method and test instrument for validating MPEG content in a CATV network, particularly one having a Remote PHY architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Flask, Loren R. Eggert
  • Patent number: 11589108
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving first content at a content-presentation device and presenting the first content, the first content comprising a first audio-content component. The content-presentation device may receive second content comprising a second audio-content component. The content-presentation device may determine a switch time at which to switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a first time interval prior to the switch time and ending at the switch time, the volume of the first audio-content component may be decreased to zero. At the switch time, the content-presentation device may switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a second time interval beginning at the switch time and ending at a second time after the switch time, the volume of the second audio-content component may be increased from zero to a non-zero volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher, Steven Michael Cormie, Stefanos Christakis Liassides, Matthew George Grover, Matthew Simon Pearce
  • Patent number: 11582516
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically determining when a single party is playing or requesting conflicting content on two different devices, and resolving the conflict accordingly. Systems automatically identify when a single user is playing back a content stream on one device, then requests another content stream on another device. If the two content streams conflict, the conflict is automatically resolved in a number of ways, including by automatically pausing or redirecting one of the content streams. Conflict identification may also be carried out with the assistance of an added state flag that indicates a device or stream that has audio priority in a conflict. Thus, for example, when one user requests two conflicting content streams, and only one stream is associated with the conditional audio enabled flag, audio of the flagged stream may be played, while the other stream is muted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: David Wittke
  • Patent number: 11570509
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for receiving media data of media content. One apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives a media presentation description (MPD) file and a session-based description (SBD) file. The processing circuitry determines whether the SBD file includes a starting time attribute indicating a starting time of an SBD timeline of a session. The processing circuitry determines the starting time of the SBD timeline based on the SBD file in response to the SBD file including the starting time attribute. The processing circuitry determines the starting time of the SBD timeline based on the MPD file in response to the SBD file not including the starting time attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TENCENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Iraj Sodagar
  • Patent number: 11558647
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improved detection of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving an audio signal containing an audio transmission. The audio transmission may contain a predetermined portion that was initially generated based on an expected sequence of complex-valued signals. A real portion of the expected sequence of complex-valued signals may be compared to the received audio signal to identify a first portion of the received audio signal. A complex portion of the expected sequence may be compared to portions of the received audio signal near the first portion of the received audio signal to identify a second portion of the received audio signal. An arrival time of the audio transmission may be determined based on the second portion of the received audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LISNR, INC
    Inventors: Rebekah Farrar, Oz Mendel, William Knauer
  • Patent number: 11558675
    Abstract: Systems and methods for video presentation and analytics for a sporting event are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sporting event is an auto racing event. A server platform is provided to collect and analyze real-time raw data and historical raw data, and compare drivers/vehicles from a current auto racing event and/or a historical auto racing event. The server platform is operable to overlay a ghost driver/vehicle on the images of a driver/vehicle in the current auto racing event based on the comparison. The server platform also provides a GUI for displaying the current auto racing event with enhanced features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SPORTSMEDIA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerard J. Hall
  • Patent number: 11546666
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for generating at least one preview of a portion of a content item, wherein the at least one preview is selectable and, when selected, enables a user to change to a playback position of the at least one preview. An input corresponding to a request to generate at least one preview of a portion of a content item is received. At least two key events corresponding to the portion of the content item is identified. In response to identifying the at least two key events, at least one interactive thumbnail corresponding to the at least two key events is generated, wherein the icon corresponds to a preview of the portion of the content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Padmassri Chandrashekar, Daina Emmanuel, Cato Yang