Patents by Inventor Matthew Toal

Matthew Toal 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).

  • Patent number: 10666699
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may calculates a latest seekable point for a live edge of a media program and determines a current playback position of the media program. The latest seekable point for the live edge corresponds to a latest time in the media program that can be played within a threshold. The method selects among a first range, a second range, and a third range based on the current playback position and the latest seekable point. A first feature is enabled when the first range is selected, a second feature is enabled when the second range is selected, and whichever of the first feature or the second feature that is currently enabled is not changed to continue displaying whichever of the first feature and the second feature that is currently enabled when the third range is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Toal, Esther Lee, Chuang Xie
  • Publication number: 20190253467
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may calculates a latest seekable point for a live edge of a media program and determines a current playback position of the media program. The latest seekable point for the live edge corresponds to a latest time in the media program that can be played within a threshold. The method selects among a first range, a second range, and a third range based on the current playback position and the latest seekable point. A first feature is enabled when the first range is selected, a second feature is enabled when the second range is selected, and whichever of the first feature or the second feature that is currently enabled is not changed to continue displaying whichever of the first feature and the second feature that is currently enabled when the third range is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Toal, Esther Lee, Chuang Xie
  • Patent number: 10298643
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may receive a seekable range position for the live edge of a live media program and a current playback time. A distance between the position and the current playback time is calculated and compared to three or more feature ranges. A first range is where the user is considered watching live, a second range is where the user is considered not watching live, and a third range is where the user state is not changed. The method enables a first feature that displays a first control indicating that the media program is in a live state for a first range. The method enables a second feature that displays a second control to allow seeking to the live edge for a third range. The method does not change whichever of the first feature or the second feature this is currently enabled for a second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Toal, Esther Lee, Chuang Xie