Patents Examined by Justin Shepard
  • Patent number: 9930382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a method and/or an apparatus for transmitting/receiving a broadcast signal for a 3-dimensional (3D) broadcast service. The method for transmitting a broadcast signal according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: downsampling each of a left picture frame, a right picture frame, a depth picture frame for the left picture frame and a depth picture frame for the right picture frame, and encoding a packed frame which packs at least one frame of the downsampled frames into one frame, generating a broadcast signal comprising signaling information for the encoded packed frame and a picture related to the packed frame; and sending the generated broadcast signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongyeul Suh, Soojin Hwang, Gyoyoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9930407
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for presenting a television program to a viewer using a mobile television receiver. The television program is received at the mobile television receiver via a first signal transmitted by a signal source having a limited range. It is determined whether the mobile receiver will exit the limited range of the signal source and, before the mobile receiver exits the limited range of the signal source, an action is facilitated to allow the viewer to continue to view the television program. Actions that may be facilitated include tuning to an alternate source of the television program, obtaining a placeshifted media stream of the television program, recording the television program on a remote video recorder, or simply notifying the viewer that he or she is about to exit the limited range of the signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DISH NETWORK LLC
    Inventor: John T. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9918144
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the viewing experience of video content by analyzing the content to determine where enhanced sensory experience events may be appropriate, by identifying devices at the viewing location and devices personal to the viewer that can be controlled to provide an enhanced sensory experience, and by activating those devices in a way that is synchronized with the presentation of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeremy Mickelsen, Adam Schafer, Bradley Wolf
  • Patent number: 9912993
    Abstract: A coax server acts as a proxy between a coax transmission infrastructure and an Internet Protocol (IP) transmission infrastructure. An incoming request is received from a particular one of a plurality of coax client devices on the coax infrastructure. A request for specific media content is transmitted to a media-on-demand server in response to receiving the incoming request. A media stream is received over the IP infrastructure from the media-on-demand server, the media stream corresponding to the specific media content, and the coax server allocates a coax channel of sufficient bandwidth on the coax infrastructure and transmits the media stream on the coax channel utilizing the RF modulation scheme. A pointer indicating the coax channel on which the media stream is being transmitted is sent to the particular coax client device. The coax channel is unknown to other of the coax client devices besides the particular coax client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Guest Tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.
    Inventors: David Andrew Hulse, David Nicol, Stuart Clark, Mark Howard Bryars
  • Patent number: 9900364
    Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. A first plurality of packets including audiovisual information may be generated. A second plurality of packets including error correction coding information for the audiovisual information may be generated. Control information for associating the error correction coding information with the audiovisual information may be generated, and a third plurality of packets including the control information may also be generated. The plurality of packets, including the first, second, and third pluralities of packets, may be transmitted to a mobile device in a wireless manner. The control information may inform the mobile device of the association of the first error correction coding information with the audiovisual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Coherent Logix, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin A. Shelby, Peter J. Nysen, Michael B. Doerr
  • Patent number: 9894422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a providing a method and/or an apparatus for transceiving a broadcast signal for a panorama broadcast service. The method for transmitting a broadcast signal, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: encoding an image, multiplexing into a single broadcast stream, the encoded image and signaling information related to the image, wherein the signaling information includes signaling information related to a panoramic image; generating a broadcast signal including the multiplex broadcast stream; and transmitting the generated broadcast signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soojin Hwang, Jongyeul Suh, Hyunmook Oh
  • Patent number: 9872059
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to eliminate a scheduled recording of a targeted media program, where the scheduled recording is a redundant recording of the targeted media program that is determined based upon monitoring of recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over a network, where another set top box of the group of set top boxes is designated as a host set top box to record the targeted media program, and where the controller is provided access to the targeted media program by the host set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Scott White, James Cansler, Gerard Edwards, Loraine Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9834142
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a data processor module that receives and processes image data provided by a plurality of video sensors and sensor data provided by a plurality of non-video sensors. The video sensors include at least five cameras disposed at respective locations of the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior the vehicle. The data processor module communicates with other vehicle systems via a vehicle bus of the vehicle. Received image data and received sensor data are processed at the data processor module for at least one of (i) object tracking of objects present exterior of the vehicle, (ii) object identification of objects present exterior of the vehicle and (iii) object classification of objects present exterior of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to processing of image data and sensor data at the data processor module, a driving assistance system of the vehicle is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Martha A. McMahon, Troy O. Cooprider
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9820014
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for movie identification based on a location. In the embodiment, a method includes locating a mobile communication device associated with a user to form location data, accessing a location database to determine a geographic location of the mobile communication device based on the location data, and identifying a set of movies related to the geographic location by accessing a movie database. Each of the set of movies in the movie database is associated with one or more respective geographic locations. The method also includes presenting a set of movie results corresponding to the set of movies on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device. In another embodiment, the method may also validate an object photographed by a camera of the mobile communication device, and use the recognized object to identify the set of movies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Nelson Kessenger, Bruce Pollock
  • Patent number: 9800916
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generation of interactive programming. An interactive programming server embeds interactive components into a video signal. The interactive programming server receives content from a content source and interactive components from an interactive component source and uses the content and interactive components to generate an interactive Video On Demand (iVOD) interactive program. The iVOD interactive program is transmitted to a participant who views the content and interacts with the interactive components of the iVOD interactive program. The participant's responses to the content is transmitted back to the interactive programming server where the participant responses are incorporated into new content which is used to generate new iVOD interactive programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MediaIP, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad W. Shusman
  • Patent number: 9800944
    Abstract: A session management involves registering at least one IPTV application in a registration table so that the registration table includes at least a respective identifier of the IPTV applications. The IPTV applications are invokable at a set top box and can be so-called embedded applications and/or browser-based applications. An event requiring the invocation of an IPTV application at the set top box is detected and triggers a look-up in the registration table. The registration table is thus used as source to indicate those IPTV applications that are potentially available and can be launched at the set top box. One of the registered applications is launched for the purpose of handling the detected event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Mats Cedervall, Jan Erik Lindquist, Andrew Mallinson
  • Patent number: 9800951
    Abstract: The playback of video content upon a display is enhanced through the unobtrusive presentation of extrinsic data upon the same display. A video content feature is rendered on a display. It is determined whether to present extrinsic data relevant to a current time in the video content feature based at least in part on appearance control metadata. A graphical element presenting at least a portion of the extrinsic data is rendered on the display while the video content feature is also being rendered on the display in response to determining to present the extrinsic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Carlson, Jeromey Russell Goetz, Douglas Andrew Hungarter, Charles G. Tritschler, Peter A. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9774918
    Abstract: An intelligent television and methods for user interaction between the intelligent television and the user are provided. In general, a user is provided with navigation, notification, and setup options which enable one or more functions associated with the intelligent television. The presentation of options is based on input received by the intelligent television. As a user provides input to the intelligent television via a remote control or other input device, the intelligent television is configured to interpret the input and provide interactive functionality in the form of content presented to the display of the intelligent television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Mohammed Selim, Mikhail Shoykher
  • Patent number: 9769510
    Abstract: There is provided a method of allowing members of a television viewing household to create individual user profiles using a plurality of input devices, the method comprising: determining the context of a user enrollment session; using the context to adapt a user enrollment to minimize operations required to complete an enrollment of the user; and generating a user hierarchy based on relationships between a plurality of user profiles according to a relationship with a television distributor and relationships between the plurality of user profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: UXP Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Deen, Gemini Waghmare, Jerry Wang, Lucia Rozborova
  • Patent number: 9762972
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for selectively obscuring a rendering of a media stream. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a request to render the media stream. The media stream is accessed through a first media source. A content identifier is identified for an event within the requested media stream. Based upon the content identifier, it may be discovered that the event is accessible through at least one second media source. The rendering of the requested media stream may then be obscured and a notification provided to a user that the event within the requested media stream is accessible through at least one second media source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Patent number: 9756363
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, a method for transmitting broadcast signals, and a method for receiving broadcast signals are disclosed. A method for transmitting a broadcast signal includes: dividing the media data into a plurality of media data fractions; generating file formats including each of the media data fractions, wherein the generated file formats include a first file format and second file formats, wherein the first file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the second file formats, wherein each of the second file formats include metadata of the media data fractions in the each of the second file formats; and transmitting the generated first and second file formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jungwook Park, Kyoungsoo Moon, Woosuk Ko, Sungryong Hong
  • Patent number: 9749685
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to control operation of a portable media device based on machine readable information of a graphical artifact shown on a display concurrently with presentation of a video portion of a media content event. A portable media device, using a portable media device provisioned with an image capture device, captures at least one image that includes the display that is presenting the graphical artifact and the video portion of the media content event, identifies the graphical artifact in the captured at least one image, determines the machine readable data based on the identified graphical artifact, and operates the portable media device to perform at least one operation based on the determined machine readable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Swapnil Tilaye, Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Patent number: 9749664
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes capturing a video for a public announcement at a transportation vehicle by an authorized device, where metadata of the video identifies the video for public announcement; transmitting the video to a distribution device that recognizes the video as being for public announcement; pausing distribution of any other video; selecting the video for public announcement; and distributing the video for public announcement to user devices at the transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Changhwa Lin
  • Patent number: 9729925
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclose involve a method, a device, and a system comprising a processor and a machine-readable storage medium storing at a set of instructions for identification and authentication of user profiles associated with a digital television system and displaying information related thereto. In example embodiments, the method includes identifying a user profile registered with a content presentation device based on received identification data that includes biometric data. The method further includes receiving, from a server, identifiers of a set of recently watched channels associated with the user profile and causing presentation of a recent channels interface that includes selectable elements corresponding to the set of recently watched channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: OPENTV, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivasan Kannan, Siddalinga Swamy, Amudha Kaliamoorthi