Patents Examined by Justin Shepard
  • Patent number: 9560404
    Abstract: A scheme for providing targeted advertisements in a multicast adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming environment. In one implementation, ads specific to a subscriber's demographic profile and relevant to the genre of a tuned MABR media channel may be downloaded in a gateway (GW) or into a network storage system. In another implementation, multicast ABR streams of ads may be triggered at specific points (e.g., insertion markers in a multicast ABR media channel) that can be selectively joined by a GW node based on demographics and channel genre. In yet another implementation, continuously streaming multicast ad channels may be switched at suitable points in a multicast ABR media channel based on targeting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ERICSSON AB
    Inventors: Chris Phillips, Jennifer Ann Reynolds, Robert Hammond Forsman, Carl Furgusson
  • Patent number: 9560312
    Abstract: A video player tablet, or a mobile device includes a processor configured to receive live video and audio data from a communication network and format the video and audio data for display on the tablet. The processor is also configured to receive live meta-data from the communication network and format the meta-data for display on the same tablet. The processor is further configured to select the meta-data, and time synchronize the selected meta-data with the video and audio data for simultaneous display on the tablet, or mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: Richard W. Herzog
  • Patent number: 9547867
    Abstract: Selecting a content filler from a plurality of content fillers in a satellite broadcast comprises receiving a content in a first broadcast frequency channel, and a plurality of content fillers in a respective plurality of second broadcast frequency channels, wherein the content includes a gap in content to be filled by one of the plurality of content fillers, the gap in content defined by a start indicator and an end indicator. The receiver transmits the content to a display device. The receiver determines a second broadcast frequency channel, from among the plurality of second broadcast frequency channels and responsive to receiving the start indicator, switches to the determined second broadcast frequency channel, transmits the content filler in the determined second broadcast frequency channel to the display device. Responsive to receiving the end indicator, the receiver switches to the first broadcast frequency channel and transmits the content to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Sankaranarayanan, Karthik Visweswariah
  • Patent number: 9549214
    Abstract: A cable network gateway receives a downstream broadband signal via service provider cabling at an interface. An Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) converts the downstream broadband signal to a digital downstream broadband signal. A digital filter attenuates an upper spectrum from the digital downstream broadband signal to produce a filtered digitized downstream broadband signal. An in-home communications transceiver produces a digital in-home communications signal that overlaps the upper spectrum. Summing circuitry sums the filtered digitized downstream broadband signal with the digital in-home communications signal to produce a combined digital signal. A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) converts the combined digital signal to a combined analog signal and an in-home cable interface transmits the combined analog signal via in-home cabling. The downstream broadband signal may be a Data over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.0/3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ardie Venes, Donald George McMullin
  • Patent number: 9547868
    Abstract: Selecting a content filler from a plurality of content fillers in a satellite broadcast comprises receiving a content in a first broadcast frequency channel, and a plurality of content fillers in a respective plurality of second broadcast frequency channels, wherein the content includes a gap in content to be filled by one of the plurality of content fillers, the gap in content defined by a start indicator and an end indicator. The receiver transmits the content to a display device. The receiver determines a second broadcast frequency channel, from among the plurality of second broadcast frequency channels and responsive to receiving the start indicator, switches to the determined second broadcast frequency channel, transmits the content filler in the determined second broadcast frequency channel to the display device. Responsive to receiving the end indicator, the receiver switches to the first broadcast frequency channel and transmits the content to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Sankaranarayanan, Karthik Visweswariah
  • Patent number: 9544523
    Abstract: A wireless display system and method decompresses a compressed video stream, such as obtained from suitable video sources such as a cable modem, DVD player or other suitable source, to produce a decompressed video stream locally. The decompressed video stream, such as frames, is stored in a local frame buffer, such as an on-chip frame buffer, system memory, or any other suitable memory. The system and method then recompresses the stored frames and wirelessly transmits the recompressed frames using a short range wireless transmitter, such as a radio frequency-based short range transmitter, an infrared short range wireless transmitter, or any other suitable short range transmitter that may provide, for example, local area networking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Edward G. Callway, David Glen
  • Patent number: 9544618
    Abstract: A venue management system receives location information from various client devices within a venue. The venue management system identifies content for presentation within the venue and maps portions of the identified content to different client devices based on the location information received from the client devices. For example, different pixels of an image are mapped to different client devices based on location information from the client devices. The venue management system then sends portions of the content to client devices mapped to the corresponding portions, and the client devices present their mapped portion of the identified content using display devices on the client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: VenueNext, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronak Bhatt, Edan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 9544619
    Abstract: A multi-view video streaming system and a method of providing the same. A streaming module streams at least part of individual-view videos of a multi-view video taken at different views to a user terminal under the control of a control module. Each individual-view video corresponds to at least part of predefined user types. A command receiving module receives a view movement command from the user terminal. An target view determination module determines an target individual-view video to be streamed to the user terminal from among the individual-view videos based on the view movement command. A user type determination module determines a user type of a user corresponding to the user terminal from among the predefined user types. The streaming module streams the target individual-view video to the user terminal when the type of the user corresponds to a user type set to the target individual-view video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NEXT AEON INC.
    Inventors: Gyu Hyon Kim, Hyun Kyu Sin
  • Patent number: 9538256
    Abstract: Methods and systems for forced advertising are provided. These methods and systems determine when a forced advertisement is to be presented, determine what forced advertisement is to be presented, and control how the forced advertisement is to be presented. A forced advertisement may be received prior to the time at which the forced advertisement is to be presented or when needed. The forced advertisement may be presented when certain broadcast advertisements are being broadcast, at certain times of the day, or at certain times within a program. The forced advertisements may be selected based upon content of a replaced broadcast advertisement, content of a nearby program, or independently of any broadcast-related factors. Finally, forced advertisements may be presented so that a television viewer cannot escape viewing the advertisement by changing channels or turning off the television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny B. Corvin
  • Patent number: 9532086
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operations comprise obtaining product image data and comparing image data of a media program with the product image data. A product placement in the media program is determined based on the comparison, and an entry in a product placement database is generated. The entry comprises identifiers of the media program, a product descriptor descriptive of the product, and a context descriptor descriptive of a presentation scheme used for the first product placement. A rating is assigned to the media program with respect to the product in accordance with the entry of the product placement in the product placement database and other entries of other product placements in the product placement database. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Simon D. Byers
  • Patent number: 9532115
    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: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeremy Mickelsen, Adam Schafer, Bradley Wolf
  • Patent number: 9532103
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for multi-user support on set top boxes and game consoles. A described technique includes executing a hypervisor that monitors a plurality of virtual machines that execute a set top box operating system or a game console operating system, providing a selection menu to a first display device, receiving a first selection of a first virtual machine, executing the first virtual machine, providing a first stream of content for a first user interface of the first virtual machine to the first display device, providing the selection menu to a second display device, receiving a second selection of a second virtual machine, executing the second virtual machine, and providing a second stream of content for a second user interface of the second virtual machine to the second display device while providing the first stream to the first display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Salim AbiEzzi, Ole Agesen
  • Patent number: 9525914
    Abstract: A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski
  • Patent number: 9479834
    Abstract: A system is provided for coordinating the presentation of program content received from a first network and a second network independent from the first network. The system uses heartbeat messages typically transmitted along communication paths to monitor the operation of the communications paths to transmit information necessary for stream switching to alternate programming or alternate sources of the same programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Elstermann, Michael A. Casteloes
  • Patent number: 9479559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transmitting/receiving contents through a network such as the Internet, and to a transmitter/receiver using same, the transmission method comprising: converting content stored in a file format into a delivery format; and including the content converted into the delivery format in a payload of an IP packet and transmitting same, wherein the delivery format includes composition information on at least one program that configures the content, wherein the program composition information further includes version information for expressing the version of the program composition information that is delivered through the IP packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hotaek Hong, Jinpil Kim, Joonhui Lee, Hyeonjae Lee, Kyungho Kim, Kangsuk Huh
  • Patent number: 9467750
    Abstract: Methods and systems for placing an overlay in video content are provided. A method receives video content and input indicating an overlay to be placed in the video. The method determines, based on overlay and video properties, locations where the overlay can be placed. The method presents suggested locations for the overlay and receives a selection of a suggested location. The overlay is placed in the selected location. A system includes memory with instructions for inserting an overlay into video content. The system receives an indication of an overlay to be placed in the video, performs attention modeling on the video to identify zones likely to be of interest to a viewer. The system presents locations within the identified zones where the overlay can be inserted and receives a selection of a location. The system inserts the overlay into the selected location and renders the video with the inserted overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Dan Banica, Andrian Cucu, Paul-Alexandru Chirita
  • Patent number: 9451298
    Abstract: To increase the efficiency of a cache and delivery resource control of video data streams in a network. A meta file including information used by a client terminal to acquire a predetermined number of video data streams of given content deliverable by a delivery server via a network is generated. When a transmission request is received from a client terminal, the meta file is transmitted to the client terminal via the network. The meta file includes an index regarding a cache of each of the video data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Yamagishi, Ikuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 9445144
    Abstract: Media content quick speed presentation systems and methods are operable to present selected portions of a media content stream at a quick speed presentation rate. An exemplary embodiment receives the media content stream; identifies a normal speed scene in the received media content, wherein the normal speed scene is presented at a normal speed presentation rate; and identifies a quick speed scene in the received media content, wherein the quick speed scene is presented at a quick speed presentation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kevin Yao
  • Patent number: 9414011
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation, the operation comprising defining, in a message, attributes of a graphics object to overlay on a video as part of a media broadcast, wherein the attributes comprise an identifier of a template for the graphics object and a time in the video to overlay the graphics object, and publishing the message to one or more recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Jorge Veloso, Terrence Pong, Jonas Geduldig
  • Patent number: 9414108
    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 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Mohammed Selim, Saulo Correia Dourado