Patents Examined by Justin Shepard
  • Patent number: 9282355
    Abstract: A user device receives a video-on-demand (VOD) selection from a user and determines that current network streaming conditions are not adequate to provide high-quality VOD content. The user device presents an option, to the user, to delay presentation of the VOD content and receives a selection to delay presentation. Based on the selection to delay, the user device obtains the VOD content from a content delivery system and obtains encryption keys for the VOD content from a license server. In a manner transparent to the content delivery system, the user device stores the VOD content and encryption keys to create stored VOD content and stored encryption keys. The user device notifies the user that the VOD content is available to view and presents the stored VOD content using the stored encryption keys. The user device deletes the stored content and stored encryption keys per a VOD viewing policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Tiraspolsky, Lev Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9277485
    Abstract: A method of transmitting and accessing announcement information identifying available services. Services are provided on the network over a plurality of communication channels, such that each channel is associated with at least one service. At least one of the plurality of communication channels is dedicated as an all-announcement channel, which includes a service announcement for each one of the services available on the plurality of communication channels. Redirection information is also present on the plurality of communication channels and is used to redirect the mobile terminal to the all-announcement channel to obtain information concerning the available services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Toni Paila
  • Patent number: 9271036
    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: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Nelson Kessenger, Bruce Pollock
  • Patent number: 9271050
    Abstract: There is disclosed apparatuses and methods for a localized process system. The apparatuses and methods include a server for authenticating a user login for a localized process system; presenting a user with a project, comprising an asset, wherein the project is a movie, and wherein the asset is created for an original geographical territory; presenting a user with a display to order a localized version of the asset, wherein the localized version of the asset is a version of the asset that is customized for a second geographical territory that is different than the original geographical territory; receiving user input to create subtitles for the localized version of the asset, wherein the user selects himself to enter the subtitles; presenting the user with a display of a timed-text script that displays a time of the asset, and the dialogue of the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Pixwell Platform, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Abele, James Tosi, Philip Zlotorynski, Jeffrey Loiselle
  • Patent number: 9271043
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller programmed to store a subscriber selectable preference for advertisements used for selecting advertisements to send to a set top box and receive a signal from a broadcast stream indicating the location for insertion of an advertisement based on the subscriber selectable preference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Dean Debois, Frank Coppa, Brian Wilson
  • Patent number: 9258610
    Abstract: A DVR, server, or other agent correlates media metadata from diverse sources, like an EPG data provider and multiple video-on-demand (VOD) service providers. Metadata sets from different sources are compared in order to attempt to identify identical programs to which the metadata sets pertain. From at least one metadata set, information about the program that the other metadata set lacks is selected. A “canonical” data structure instance for the program is created. The information that is lacking from at least one of the metadata sources is inserted into that instance. For each source from which a program is available, the DVR stores the identity of that source on the DVR's persistent storage device in association with the canonical data structure instance for that program. The DVR receives search criteria from a user and then searches the stored canonical data structure instance for programs that satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kulick, Michael Francis Klar, Vin Chawla, Marcel Dubois, Brian Beach, Alain Jobart
  • Patent number: 9253542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for receiving satellite television signals. A centralized system component may be provided in association with the satellite antenna. The centralized system component includes at least one or more tuners and one or more demodulators. The centralized component may provide output through a network adaptor that provides output through a single output, which is a coaxial cable in one embodiment. The centralized component may send output in the form of packetized data directed to one or more set-top boxes by way of a network transaction. The set-top box or boxes may be operable to receive the network transaction and to process the data, as appropriate, for display on a TV/monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stephen Strong, Frederick R. Tuck, Daniel Alexander Landreth
  • Patent number: 9215508
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in an optical transmission system optically transmitting an optical signal between a first camera adaptor provided to a first video camera, a second camera adaptor provided to a second video camera, and a base station provided at a position remote from the video cameras, the first camera adaptor converts a first electric signal including a video signal component from the first video camera into a first optical signal and transmits the first optical signal to the second camera adaptor. The second camera adaptor receives the first optical signal, converts a second electric signal including a video signal from the second video camera into a second optical signal, and transmits the first and second optical signals to the base station. The base station receives the first and second optical signals, converts the received optical signals into the first and second electric signals, and outputs the electric signals to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Video System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 9204061
    Abstract: Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Conviva Inc.
    Inventors: Ningning Hu, John W. Heffner, Mei-Hsuan Lu, Aditya R. Ganjam, Ion Stoica
  • Patent number: 9204081
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for minimizing cable and off-air signal detection on separate cable and off-air input jacks in a set-top terminal with two or more tuners. The systems and methods employ logic to progress through different scan configurations with different input jack/signal detection assignments to minimize signal detection delay. Tuners are pooled for a given input jack/signal assignment, scanned frequencies are queued and carried to the next scan configuration, and user input is employed, whenever possible. The systems and methods are of particular value for retail applications, where users may install cable, off-air, or both sources incorrectly to their set-top terminal's cable and off-air input jacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay W. Strater, Thomas L. DuBreuil, David C. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 9197943
    Abstract: A system for searching for programs is provided. The system may allow the user to indicate an interest in a given program and to request that the system locate programs related to the given program. The system may locate program listings related to the given program (e.g., based on attributes of the given program), display a list of located listings and allow the user to select listings from the list. For a program selected from the list, the system may tune to the program, may display an information display screen for the program, etc. The system may allow the user to configure and save search parameters, sort related program listings based on the attributes of the given program. For a saved search, the system may allow the user to retrieve the search to locate currently available program listings, receive automatic notifications of programs matching the search, modify the search, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Benjamin Herrington, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9191574
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes at least three cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle and operable to capture image data. Image data received at a video processor module is processed by a video processor of the video processor module. The received image data is processed by the video processor to generate a synthesized image. The synthesized image is output from the video processor module for display by a single display screen of a display device that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the vehicle. The video processor may be operable for least one of (i) object tracking, (ii) object classification, (iii) diagnostics, (iv) camera selection, (v) camera control, (vi) on-screen display generation, (vii) data storage and (viii) data exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Martha A. McMahon, Troy O. Cooprider
  • Patent number: 9185332
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Kunkel, Jon P. Radloff, Michael D. Ellis, Michael L. Craner, Rajeshwari B. Iyer, Andrzej Jakubowski
  • Patent number: 9179115
    Abstract: A DVR sends, over the Internet, to a server, information that indicates a set of programs. The information also may indicate a ranking of the programs in the set relative to each other. In response to receiving the information from the DVR, the server determines a “to do” list of programs that the DVR should record as those programs are broadcasted in the future. The “to do” list indicates recording times and channels for each program. The server sends the “to do” list back to the DVR over the Internet. The DVR receives the “to do” list over the Internet and stores the “to do” list. As the programs on the “to do” list are broadcasted, the DVR automatically records those programs at the list-specified times and on the list-specified channels. The DVR stores those programs on the DVR's hard disk drive for later viewing by the DVR user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Barton
  • Patent number: 9167039
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for caching video object portions. A request for stand-alone content in a video object is received, the content neither being cached nor being adjacent to a cached video object portion, and a first portion of the video object is cached. A value is assigned to the first video object portion. A subsequent request for content in the video object is received, the subsequent request corresponding to access to the first video object portion and a second, uncached portion of the video object. The value of the first video object portion is updated. For the second video object portion, an amount to cache and a value are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malolan Chetlur, Umamaheswari C. Devi, Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Robert Bruce Nicholson, Ramana V. Polavarapu
  • Patent number: 9148678
    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: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hotaek Hong, Jinpil Kim, Joonhui Lee, Hyeonjae Lee, Kyungho Kim, Kangsuk Huh
  • Patent number: 9137491
    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: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny B. Corvin
  • Patent number: 9129305
    Abstract: Methods of generating recommendations may include obtaining social network data from one or more network resources. Word relationships may be created between selected words in the social network data to produce relationship data. Advertisement or other asset recommendations may be generated for a target user by analyzing browse information of the target user to identify one or more words. Other words in the relationship data may be identified that are related to the words in the target user's browse information. One or more advertisements may be identified having at least one keyword that corresponds to the other words. At least a portion of these advertisements may be selected from a data repository to provide to the target user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Awel LLC
    Inventors: Marcus G. Larner, Andrew Michael Moeck
  • Patent number: 9122754
    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: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft International Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Bjorn Olstad, Will Arentz
  • Patent number: 9124916
    Abstract: An interactive technique for generating a supplementary, program-related output. A programming signal and a supplementary, program-related data signal containing rewards data for product or service purchases are combined into a broadcast signal which is then broadcast from a program signal source. The broadcast signal is received, and the programming signal of the received broadcast signal is performed with reproduction equipment for an audience. The rewards data is stored on a portable storage media for use in accessing rewards corresponding to the rewards data. The rewards data can be used for printing coupons used in redeeming the rewards or for use in accessing rewards validation codes for storage on the portable storage media. The portable storage media and/or the printed coupons can then be used to purchase the corresponding goods or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Winmore, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee S Weinblatt, Edward M. Weisz