Patents by Inventor Brian F. Roberts
Brian F. Roberts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190289083Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by one or more computing devices of a content-aggregation-and-distribution system, one or more content postings. Each content posting is associated on creation with one or more geographic locations related to accessing the content posting. The method includes selectively providing, by one or more computing devices of the content-aggregation-and-distribution system, one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a geographic location associated with the access device. For each content posting selectively provided for display, the geographic location associated with the access device being within a predefined proximity of a geographic location of the one or more geographic locations related to accessing the content posting is requisite to the content posting being selectively provided for display.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Publication number: 20190253502Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a content posting from a device associated with a first user, the content posting including data representative of a content instance and a geographic location associated with the content instance; determining that a second user is associated with the geographic location associated with the content instance, wherein the determination is based on a first client device associated with the second user being or having been within a predefined proximity of the geographic location associated with the content instance; and authorizing, based on the second user being associated with the geographic location associated with the content instance, a second client device associated with the second user to submit an annotation to the content instance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Publication number: 20190220239Abstract: An exemplary method includes defining a group of users associated with a plurality of access devices, providing a graphical user interface to a first access device and a second access device of the plurality of access devices, receiving, from the first access device, data representative of a first content item, the data having a first data format, mapping the first content item to the group of users, encoding the data representative of the first content item into a second data format different than the first data format, identifying that the second access device is associated with the group of users, distributing, to the second access device, the encoded data representative of the first content item in the second data format, and displaying an interactive graphical object representative of the first content item in the graphical user interface of the second access device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: James M. Kondziela, Heath Stallings, Donald H. Relyea, Brian F. Roberts
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Patent number: 10334061Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with one or more geographic locations corresponding to accessing of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user, and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, one or more of the geographic locations associated with the accessing of the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 10310697Abstract: An exemplary method includes a user interface system providing a graphical user interface view that includes a high-level menu including first and second of high-level menu options respectively associated with first and second sub-menus, assigning the first high-level menu option an active status, activating the first sub-menu such that the first sub-menu is navigable with a directional pad (“D-pad”) of a remote control device while the first high-level menu option has the active status, receiving user input provided by way of a toggle button of the remote control device designated to toggle between the first and second high-level menu options, toggling the active status from the first high-level menu option to the second high-level menu option, and activating the second sub-menu such that the second sub-menu is navigable with the D-pad of the remote control device while the second high-level menu option has the active status.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Imran Arif Maskatia, Paul Bradley Bowers
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Publication number: 20190116231Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with one or more geographic locations corresponding to accessing of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user, and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, one or more of the geographic locations associated with the accessing of the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 10261743Abstract: In certain examples, a content hub subsystem receives data representative of content from an access device included in a plurality of access devices associated with the predefined group of users, maps the content to the predefined group of users, and provides data representative of the content to one or more other access devices associated with the predefined group of users. In certain examples, the content hub subsystem selects one or more data formats and encodes the content into the one or more data formats for distribution to the one or more other access devices associated with the predefined group of users. Each of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users is configured to generate at least one interactive graphical object representative of the content, and generate and present a graphical user interface including the interactive graphical object.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: James M. Kondziela, Heath Stallings, Donald H. Relyea, Brian F. Roberts
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Patent number: 10206004Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system 1) establishing a set of one or more conditions for a media-on-demand-based programming channel, 2) selecting, from a repository of on-demand media content and based on the set of one or more conditions, a set of on-demand media programs for inclusion in the media-on-demand-based programming channel, and 3) mapping the selected set of on-demand media programs to the media-on-demand-based programming channel to represent a scheduled, linear playback of the set of on-demand media programs on the media-on-demand-based programming channel in accordance with a linear playback schedule.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLCInventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather, Paul Bradley Bowers, Imran Arif Maskatia, Brandon N. Wright
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Patent number: 10187480Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with one or more geographic locations corresponding to accessing of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user, and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, one or more of the geographic locations associated with the accessing of the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 10182265Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content presentation system detecting an access event initiated by a user and performed by a media content processing subsystem with respect to a media content program during a time period associated with a provider-scheduled presentation of the media content program, identifying a programming block of which the media content program is a part, determining that the user has failed to direct the media content processing subsystem to perform an additional access event with respect to one or more additional media content programs that are also a part of the programming block during a time period associated with a provider-scheduled presentation of the one or more additional media content programs, and facilitating, in response to the determining, access by the user to the one or more additional media content programs included in the programming block. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts
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Publication number: 20180309839Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with one or more geographic locations corresponding to accessing of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user, and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, one or more of the geographic locations associated with the accessing of the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 10108970Abstract: A method performed by one or more devices within a subscription television network includes defining a micro-group, where the micro-group includes one or more user accounts associated with the subscription television network. The method further includes obtaining a profile for the micro-group and obtaining advertising corresponding to the profile of the micro-group. The method also includes sending the advertising to a device associated with one of the one or more user accounts.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Donald H. Relyea, Jr., Brian F. Roberts, Alex Zavatone
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Patent number: 10110960Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service system providing a manifest file for use by a media player to perform adaptive bitrate switching in accordance with an adaptive bitrate streaming heuristic, the manifest file including data that associates a first media program provided by an on-demand media service with a first bitrate and a second media program provided by the on-demand media service with a second bitrate; directing the media player to present the first media program; detecting, while the first media program is being presented, a channel change command provided by the user; and directing, in response to the channel change command, the media player to switch from presenting the first media program to presenting the second media program by providing the media player with a command to use the manifest file to switch from the first bitrate to the second bitrate. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLCInventors: Brian F. Roberts, Anthony Lemus
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Patent number: 10079899Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a content posting from a device associated with a first user, the content posting including data representative of a content instance and a geographic location associated with the content instance; determining that a second user is associated with the geographic location associated with the content instance, wherein the determination is based on a first client device associated with the second user being or having been within a predefined proximity of the geographic location associated with the content instance; and authorizing, based on the second user being associated with the geographic location associated with the content instance, a second client device associated with the second user to submit an annotation to the content instance.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 10027772Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings that each include data representative of one or more content instances, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with a geographic location corresponding to a content creation event of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, the geographic location associated with the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Publication number: 20180167470Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings that each include data representative of one or more content instances, where each content posting is associated with one or more first users and each content posting is associated with a geographic location corresponding to a content creation event of the content posting. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device, where the access device is associated with a second user and for each content posting selectively sent for display on the access device, the geographic location associated with the content posting being within a predefined proximity of the past or present geographic location of the access device is requisite to the content posting being sent for display on the access device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 9967610Abstract: An exemplary computer-implemented television service system detects, while a media content processing device is presenting a user interface view associated with a television service within a display screen in communication with the media content processing device, an input command provided by a user of the media content processing device and representative of a request for customer support. In response, the system identifies a context within which the input command is provided by the user, selects, based on the identified context, customer support content provided by the television service and associated with the user interface view being presented within the display screen, and directs the media content processing device to present the customer support content within the user interface view. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa, Anthony Lemus
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Patent number: 9917907Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings that each include data representative of one or more content instances. Each content posting is associated with one or more first users. The method also includes storing one or more data records associating one or more geographic locations with accessing of the content instances. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device associated with a second user based on a past geographic location of the access device.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
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Patent number: 9900658Abstract: A system detects a first activity performed by a first user with respect to a media service while the first user is logged in to the media service with a particular user account and a second activity performed by a second user with respect to the media service while the second user is logged in to the media service with the particular user account, determines that the first activity is performed within a first device context and that the second activity is performed within a second device context, includes, based on the determination, the first activity in a local activity set associated with the first device context, the local activity set including one or more activities performed with respect to the media service exclusively in the first device context, and uses the local activity set to provide a personalized interaction experience with the media service within the first device context.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLCInventors: Brian F. Roberts, Imran Arif Maskatia, Anthony Lemus
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Patent number: 9846526Abstract: An exemplary method includes a multi-user collaboration tracking system 1) detecting an initiation of a collaboration session during which a plurality of users interact with a whiteboard space displayed on a single physical display associated with a computing device, 2) detecting an interaction event performed with respect to the whiteboard space during the collaboration session, 3) identifying a user included in the plurality of users as having performed the interaction event, and 4) associating the interaction event with the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLCInventors: Anthony Lemus, Brian F. Roberts