Patents by Inventor George M. Higa
George M. Higa 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: 20160127788Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa, Anthony Lemus
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Publication number: 20160127784Abstract: An exemplary computer-implemented media service system detects an input command provided by a user to initiate a viewing session by way of a display screen in communication with a media content processing device that operates in accordance with a media service, identifies a context within which the input command is provided by the user, selects, based on the identified context, a media program available by way of the media service and that is potentially of interest to the user, and directs the media content processing device to present the media program by way of the display screen when the viewing session begins in response to the input command. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa, Anthony Lemus
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Publication number: 20160127791Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods provide a media guide graphical user interface having distinct views dedicated to presenting different sets of information about media content distributed by way of a media service, such as a first view dedicated to presenting information about media programs scheduled for distribution by way of a media service during one or more time slots that overlap a current time and a second view dedicated to presenting information about media programs scheduled for distribution by way of the media service during one or more time slots that are temporally subsequent to the one or more time slots that overlap the current time. In certain examples, a requested view of the media guide graphical user interface is dynamically populated with a select set of categories and category-specific media programs based on one or more predefined selection factors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa, Anthony Lemus
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Publication number: 20160127777Abstract: An exemplary media service personalization system maintains profiles for multiple media service access devices associated with an end-user account with a media service, generates a merged profile based on the profiles for the media service access devices, and directs a communal media service access device associated with the end-user account to personalize the media service based on the merged profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa, Anthony Lemus
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Publication number: 20150379048Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content search system providing a media content search creation tool in a graphical user interface, detecting a user-submission of one or more user-selectable graphical objects representing one or more media programs to the media content search creation tool in the graphical user interface, and generating a set of media content search parameters based on the one or more media programs represented by the one or more user-selectable graphical objects submitted to the media content search creation tool. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Senthil K. Raghavan, Sankar Ram Dhanabalan, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20150312608Abstract: In an exemplary method, a media service personalization system directs a media service access device to operate in accordance with a shared mode of operation when user interaction with the media service access device is by way of a shared user input device and directs the media service access device to operate in accordance with a personal mode of operation when user interaction with the media service access device is by way of a personal device specific to a user. In certain examples, the media service personalization system may switch between directing the media service access device to operate in accordance with the shared mode of operation and directing the media service access device to operate in accordance with the personal mode of operation based on a status of a remote control session between the personal device and the shared media service access device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: George M. Higa, Deron Bauman, Lilian Mi Quach, Hao Tzu Kong, Sherrily Huang
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Publication number: 20150309715Abstract: In an exemplary method, a media service user interface system provides, for display on a screen of a primary display device, a media menu tray user interface view that includes a media menu tray representing a menu of one or more media programs and provides, for display on a display screen of a mobile device while the media menu tray user interface view is provided for display on the display screen of the primary display device, a remote control user interface view dynamically tailored to facilitate remote user interaction with the media menu tray included in the media menu tray user interface view provided for display on the display screen of the primary display device. In certain examples, the remote control user interface view is dynamically tailored based on a current state of the media menu tray user interface view.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: George M. Higa, Deron Bauman, Lilian Mi Quach, Hao Tzu Kong, Sherrily Huang
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Patent number: 9134874Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media player user interface system 1) displaying a GUI on a display screen associated with a computing device, the GUI including a user-scrollable media content menu that contains a display area associated with a media feed accessible by the computing device, 2) selecting menu display content for the display area based at least in part on a scroll status of the user-scrollable media content menu, 2) and populating the display area with the selected menu display content. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Sanjay Ahuja, Donald H. Relyea, Andrew Allman, George M. Higa, Laxmi A. Arte
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Patent number: 9094652Abstract: An exemplary method includes a digital video recording (“DVR”) data migration management system 1) receiving a request for a user account to migrate from being associated with a first DVR system to being associated with a second DVR system, 2) accessing a first DVR data set associated with the first DVR system and separate from data representative of a library of one or more media content assets stored by the first DVR system, 3) generating a second DVR data set based on the first DVR data set and in accordance with one or more attributes of the second DVR system, and 4) associating the second DVR data set with the second DVR system. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Raul I. Aldrey, Donald H. Relyea, Venkata S. Adimatyam, Kishore Tallapaneni, Michael R. Oliver, George M. Higa
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Patent number: 9088822Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media clip sharing system receiving, from an end-user of a media distribution service that distributes a media program, a request to share a clip of the media program to a social network and, in response to the request to share the clip of the media program to the social network, identifying a sponsor of the media program in the media distribution service and sharing the clip of the media program and data representative of the identified sponsor to the social network. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Donald H. Relyea, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20150193138Abstract: In an exemplary method, a user interface system receives touch screen input data representative of a touch screen input provided by a user on a touch screen of a remote control device configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronic device that provides a graphical user interface (“GUI”) for display on a display screen, converts the touch screen input to GUI input associated with the GUI provided by the electronic device for display on the display screen, and applies the GUI input to the GUI displayed on the display screen. In certain examples the user interface system converts the touch screen input to GUI input in accordance with a touch-screen-based directional-hop movement mode or a touch-screen-based free-cursor directional movement mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Donald H. Relyea, Andrew Allman, Ryan J. Trees, George M. Higa
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Patent number: 8954896Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen is maintained, an object is detected within the object detection zone, one or more of the levels are selected based on one or more attributes of the object, and an action associated with the selected one or more levels is performed. In certain examples, the action includes modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLCInventors: Kristopher T. Frazier, Brian F. Roberts, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20150020109Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service user interface system 1) providing a media service graphical user interface (“GUI”) for display, 2) detecting user input to launch a user interface customization mode, 3) launching the user interface customization mode, 4) receiving user input defining a customization of the GUI, 5) implementing the customization, and 6) exiting the user interface customization mode. In certain examples, the GUI may include a main menu bar that includes a set of menu objects representing a set of feature modules of the media service and a menu bar management object, the customization mode may be launched in response to a user selection of the menu bar management object included in the main menu bar, and the customization may be of the main menu bar. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: George M. Higa, Donald H. Relyea, Ruchir Rodrigues
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Publication number: 20140380354Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media clip sharing system receiving, from an end-user of a media distribution service that distributes a media program, a request to share a clip of the media program to a social network and, in response to the request to share the clip of the media program to the social network, identifying a sponsor of the media program in the media distribution service and sharing the clip of the media program and data representative of the identified sponsor to the social network. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Donald H. Relyea, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20140186001Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content asset recovery system 1) detecting a migration of a user account from being associated with a first DVR system to being associated with a second DVR system, 2) identifying, in response to the detecting, a media content asset included within a library of one or more media content assets stored by the first DVR system at a time associated with the migration, 3) selecting, in accordance with a source selection heuristic, a media content source other than the first DVR system and that is configured to distribute the media content asset, and 4) directing the second DVR system to acquire the media content asset from the selected media content source for storage by the second DVR system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Raul I. Aldrey, Donald H. Relyea, Venkata S. Adimatyam, Kishore Tallapaneni, Michael R. Oliver, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20140186000Abstract: An exemplary method includes a digital video recording (“DVR”) data migration management system 1) receiving a request for a user account to migrate from being associated with a first DVR system to being associated with a second DVR system, 2) accessing a first DVR data set associated with the first DVR system and separate from data representative of a library of one or more media content assets stored by the first DVR system, 3) generating a second DVR data set based on the first DVR data set and in accordance with one or more attributes of the second DVR system, and 4) associating the second DVR data set with the second DVR system. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Raul I. Aldrey, Donald H. Relyea, Venkata S. Adimatyam, Kishore Tallapaneni, Michael R. Oliver, George M. Higa
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Patent number: 8719891Abstract: An exemplary method includes a promotion system 1) detecting a promotion opportunity based on a condition associated with a migration of a user account from being associated with a first digital video recording (“DVR”) system to being associated with a second DVR system and 2) providing, based on the detected promotion opportunity, promotional content for access by a user associated with the user account. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Rual I. Aldrey, Donald H. Relyea, Venkata S. Adimatyam, Kishore Tallapaneni, Michael R. Oliver, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20140123011Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media player user interface system 1) displaying a GUI on a display screen associated with a computing device, the GUI including a user-scrollable media content menu that contains a display area associated with a media feed accessible by the computing device, 2) selecting menu display content for the display area based at least in part on a scroll status of the user-scrollable media content menu, 2) and populating the display area with the selected menu display content. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Sanjay Ahuja, Donald H. Relyea, Andrew Allman, George M. Higa, Laxmi A. Arte
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Patent number: 8693838Abstract: An exemplary method includes a digital video recording (“DVR”) data exchange system 1) maintaining first porting configuration data associated with a first DVR service system and second porting configuration data associated with a second DVR service system, 2) receiving a request to port DVR data from a first DVR system associated with the first DVR service system to a second DVR system associated with the second DVR service system, and 3) in response to the request, accessing a first DVR data set associated with the first DVR system, generating, in accordance with the first porting configuration data and the second porting configuration data, a second DVR data set based on the first DVR data set, and providing the second DVR data set as output. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Raul I. Aldrey, Donald H. Relyea, Venkata S. Adimatyam, Kishore Tallapaneni, Michael R. Oliver, George M. Higa
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Publication number: 20140068678Abstract: A method includes receiving a request, associated with a user profile, for an integrated video guide for a video service. The integrated video guide is time based, and the video service includes broadcast video content and video service selected video content. The video service selected video content is provided via unicast or multicast. The method includes identifying basic video channels that are provided to all subscribers of the video service, and identifying user selected channels that are provided based on the user profile. Broadcast channels that are included in the user selected channels are identified. Online channels that are included in the user selected channels are also identified. The method also includes presenting the basic video channels, the broadcast channels, and the online channels in a same manner in the integrated video guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Ruchir Rodrigues, Shafiq Kassam, Enrique Ruiz-Velasco, Donald H. Relyea, George M. Higa, Mark W. Phillips, Japan A. Mehta, Arjun Baskaran