Patents Examined by Justin Shepard
  • Patent number: 9392310
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for collecting and managing TV viewership data from multiple TV metering data providers is disclosed. The method includes: receiving an event log file at a distributed computer system that includes multiple computers; dynamically selecting one or more computers according to a predefined sharding function; at each of the selected computers: allocating a set of compressed event records, which corresponds to a subset of the event log file, at predetermined locations within the memory of the computer; and in accordance with a predefined schedule, replicating the compressed event records from a respective one of the selected computers to one or more other computers of the distributed system such that there are at least two replicas of any event record on at least two computers of the distributed computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Yaroslav Volovich, Raimundo Mirisola, Simon Michael Rowe, Nick Arini, Andrew Gildfind, Ant Oztaskent, Iain Merrick
  • Patent number: 9392329
    Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, accessing, by a system comprising a processor, a content display configuration corresponding to a plurality of feed selections from a plurality of media content feeds, a plurality of display selections from a plurality of available displays, and a plurality of pairing selections assigning each feed selection of the plurality of feed selections to at least one display selection of the plurality of display selections, and transmitting a plurality of displayable content streams according to the content display configuration. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Sheldon Kent Meredith, Jeremy Fix, Zachary Meredith
  • Patent number: 9386334
    Abstract: A method and system for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) enables a user to configure a wireless user device as a remote control device (RCD). The RCD may communicate via a wireless network and an MCDN server to execute remote control commands at the MCDN client. The RCD may implement a remote control interface, including control elements configured for touch operation. The control elements may provide specific interactive functionality for channel selection, volume selection, playback of multimedia content, and other remote control features. The RCD may also receive feedback and status information associated with remote control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda A. Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Tuck Seng Tan
  • Patent number: 9386454
    Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for validating a communication device such as a UE for allowing usage of television radio bands/channels (TVWS). An identification verification process of the communication device is performed by including a unique identification element into an integrity protected and ciphered message related to a radio resource connection reconfiguration procedure, the unique identification element identifying a certified communication device allowed to use radio resources of a television radio band. The message is transmitted to the communication network for performing an identification verification processing with a TVWS database. Furthermore, a mechanism for a handover scenario is provided where validating of the communication device for allowing usage of television radio bands/channels (TVWS) is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sami-Jukka Hakola, Timo Koskela, Samuli Turtinen
  • Patent number: 9376060
    Abstract: A driver assist system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicular cameras disposed at the vehicle and a plurality of non-video sensors disposed at the vehicle. The cameras capture image data and at least one non-video sensor captures sensor data. A video processor module receives image data captured by the cameras and receives sensor data captured by the at least one non-video sensor. The received image data is fused with received sensor data at the video processor module. The video processor module communicates with other vehicle systems via a vehicle bus of the vehicle. Received image data is processed at the video processor module to generate a synthesized image, which is displayed by a display screen. Responsive at least in part to fusing of image data and sensor data at the video processor module, a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Martha A. McMahon, Troy O. Cooprider
  • Patent number: 9380345
    Abstract: A video media viewport/window may be progressively scaled and/or repositioned based on sequential navigational commands received via an input device. A process may include presenting video media within a viewing window that substantially spans an area of the display, and receiving, during playback of the video media, a plurality of sequential user input commands via an input device that indicate a navigational command in a first direction. In response to receiving the sequential user input commands, the system may progressively scale the viewing window to increasingly smaller size viewing windows, position the smaller size viewing windows a distance from a center of the display relative to the direction of the received navigational commands, and present one or more interactive elements outside of the smaller size viewing windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William H Vong, Chao Wang, Jeremie Blehm
  • Patent number: 9372926
    Abstract: In a method for displaying video data within result presentations in information access or search systems, compressed thumbnails are computed for videos in a result page and applied to the result page. An end user is enabled to select a video in the result page and activate streaming of a video summary within the context of the associated result page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V.
    Inventors: Bjorn Olstad, Will Arentz
  • Patent number: 9369751
    Abstract: A hand-held pointing device includes a main body, a processing circuit, a light emitting device and two image sensing devices. The main body has a first surface and a second surface for lying on an operating surface. The two image sensing devices are disposed in the main body and configured to sense first and second images through first and second transparent areas thereof, respectively. The light emitting device, disposed in the main body, is configured to emit a light source through the second transparent area. The processing circuit is configured to determine and operate the hand-held pointing device in a remote controller mode or a mouse mode according to whether the first image contains an image of a reference light source and/or the second image contains an image of the operating surface reflecting the light source. An operation for a hand-held pointing device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Cheun Liang, Chi-Yang Huang, Chih-Yen Wu, Wen-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 9363546
    Abstract: Embodiments related to selecting advertisements for display to targeted viewers are disclosed. In one example embodiment, an advertisement is selected by, for each of a plurality of advertisements, aggregating a plurality of emotional response profiles from a corresponding plurality of prior viewers of the advertisement to form an aggregated emotional response profile for the advertisement, wherein each of the emotional response profiles comprises a temporal record of a prior viewer's emotional response to the advertisement. The method further includes identifying a group of potentially positively correlated viewers for the targeted viewer, filtering the aggregated emotional response profiles based on the group of potentially positively correlated viewers, selecting a particular advertisement from the plurality of advertisements based on a correlation of the filtered aggregated emotional response profiles, and sending the particular advertisement for display to the targeted viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Doug Burger, Todd Eric Holmdahl, Joseph H. Matthews, III, James A. Baldwin, Jay Schiller
  • Patent number: 9357265
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for enabling members of a television viewing location to generate user profiles on behalf of a video middleware system. The method comprises intercepting data exchanged between an end user apparatus and the video middleware system; processing the data to generate either first processed data in a first format familiar to a user lifecycle management system, or second processed data in a second format familiar to the video middleware system; and providing either the first processed data to the user lifecycle management system, or the second processed data to the video middleware system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: UXP Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Wang, Soyeon Lim, Gemini Waghmare, Jay A. Deen
  • Patent number: 9357266
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to recommend media content events with a personalized user incentive. An exemplary embodiment generates a media content event recommendation banner that is concurrently presentable with a presented electronic program guide (EPG), wherein the media content event recommendation banner includes at least one identifier of a recommended media content event and at least one personalized user incentive that is configured to be selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Patent number: 9348495
    Abstract: A multi-window user interface (UI) on a control device such as a tablet computer communicates commands to a display controller, which may be implemented by a game console. The controller controls presentation on a large screen display according to the commands. A tertiary device such as a wireless phone can obtain an application listing audio feeds associated with various videos presented on the display so that a user can listen via headphones to a first audio stream associated with a first video window on the display when the display speakers are playing audio associated with a second video window on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: David Andrew Young, Liviu Burciu, Louis Le, Steven Martin Richman
  • Patent number: 9344761
    Abstract: A video display system includes a video display unit, and an external unit configured to be communicatable with the video display unit. The video display unit includes a display panel and is configured to transmit specific information to the external unit. The specific information includes display panel information related to the display panel. The external unit is configured to derive a parameter from the specific information received from the video display unit and to transmit, to the video display unit, one of the derived parameter and related data related to the derived parameter. The parameter determines image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: JOLED Inc.
    Inventors: Yohei Funatsu, Koichi Maeyama, Daisuke Miki, Yoshito Shiraishi, Shoji Araki
  • Patent number: 9326036
    Abstract: A channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message is transmitted in each of multiple frequencies prior to movement of data associated with one or more virtual channels to one or more different frequencies. The RPN message is also sent prior to transmission of a Virtual Channel Table (VCT) reflecting channel movement. If a receiving device is unable to find data associated with a selected channel subsequent to the channel movement, the stored RPN information can be used to identify a new frequency for that selected channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 9326042
    Abstract: An intra-domain routing method in a content centric network (CCN), includes generating a packet requesting information requested by a node, the packet including an area to which the information is to be advertised, and transmitting the packet within the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Ik Hong, Byoung Joon Lee, Myeong Wuk Jang, Jae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9319644
    Abstract: A communications system and method involving a set top box (STB) and a channel stacking switch (CSS). The STB comprises a communications interface configured to issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB and further configured to receive a message identifying an assigned user band; and a tuning element configured to tune to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message. The CSS comprises a communications interface configured to receive the request for a user band identifying the STB; a memory; and a processing entity configured to access the memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB and to assign the particular user band to the STB; wherein the communications interface is further configured to issue to the STB a message identifying the particular user band assigned to the STB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: BCE Inc.
    Inventors: Ovidiu Octavian Popa, Wayne Scrivens, Alexander Ishankov, Alan Dagenais, Tim Dinesen, Peter Marusich
  • Patent number: 9307278
    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: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski
  • Patent number: 9288443
    Abstract: It is assumed that a reception processing unit receives a broadcast program in accordance with tuning based on the user's specification. In this state, a non-viewable state detection processing unit monitors occurrence of a non-viewable state from an acquisition state of reception data. When the non-viewable state occurs due to a certain factor, a non-viewable state accumulation unit accumulates information on the non-viewable state. When the factor of a viewing interruption is solved and a user makes a request for service provision, the processing unit connects to a distribution apparatus to report content of the non-viewable state, and receives distribution of a relevant content, thereby the processing unit becomes able to recontinue interrupted broadcast content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinichi Kurihara, Yoshiro Osaki, Sunao Wada, Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, Naoko Satoh
  • Patent number: 9288518
    Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to facilitate the transmission of information associated with content being viewed on a public device to a private device. In response to a request from a content reception apparatus, a tablet terminal and a mobile telephone transmit information associated with an action and an application that are coordinatable with the content being displayed to the content reception apparatus. In response to a user operation, the tablet terminal selects a user-specified application from a list of applications displayed on a display of the content reception apparatus and transmits this select information to the content reception apparatus. If a coordination command of an action for coordination with an active application comes from the content reception apparatus, then the mobile telephone executes the received command. The present disclosure is applicable to information processing systems operating the content reception apparatus by using a terminal in wireless communication, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Sugiue
  • Patent number: 9282379
    Abstract: A system and method in a broadband receiver (e.g., a satellite television receiver) for efficiently receiving and processing signals, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.
    Inventors: Glenn Chang, Timothy Gallagher, Sridhar Ramesh