Patents by Inventor Michael R. Nichols

Michael R. Nichols 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: 10506279
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a sequence of video clips are provided. A user input identifying a source of video is received. Responsive to the user input, a plurality of future videos provided by the source that is unavailable to the user at a time when the user input was received is identified. A sequence of video clips associated with the identified plurality of future videos is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Stathacopoulos, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10462410
    Abstract: Systems and methods for re-recording content associated with popularity that re-emerged are provided. A plurality of media assets is recorded. Responsive to determining that popularity of a given one of the plurality of media assets fell below a first threshold, the given media asset is selected for deletion and the given media asset is added to a list of a plurality of media assets that have been selected for deletion. Popularity for the given media asset in the list is retrieved after selecting the given media asset for deletion. The retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is compared to a second threshold. In response to determining that the retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is now above the second threshold, an action relating to re-recording the given media asset is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, William L. Thomas, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10449732
    Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry may receive a selection of a foreground object presented in a video scene being viewed by the user. Based on the selection of the foreground object, control circuitry may ascertain a background object from the video scene. By ascertaining an object, control circuitry may be able to identify an object, and prepare for modification a design file for the 3D printing of that object. Control circuitry may determine an attribute of the foreground object. Based on the determined foreground object attribute, control circuitry may modify a parameter of a design file for printing a 3D printing of the background object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Jason Lam
  • Patent number: 10438009
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that allows access restrictions to be modified in a flexible manner based on a deviation in a user's projected location. Specifically, the media guidance application determines at an end of a first time period whether a user is in a projected location for a second time period. If the user is in a projected location for the second time period, the media guidance application sets a second level of media access restriction. However, if the media guidance application determines that the user is not in the projected location for the second time period, the media guidance application maintains the first level of media access restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Nichols, Sally Cook
  • Publication number: 20190306578
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that provides content recommendations based on recent activity. For example, the media guidance application determines that the user has stopped using the first device and is using the second device. In response, the media guidance application retrieves, from memory, a length of time that the user has consumed media on the first device. The media guidance application then determines the time interval when the user was consuming media on the first device. Next, media content is determined that the user consumed on the first device during the time interval. The media guidance application then determines a characteristic of the consumed media content and recommends media content on a second device based on the characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Danielle Larson, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20190191209
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that may enhance viewer experience. The media guidance application may receive video assets from content capture devices at different locations, determine characteristics of the media assets and assign content tags, corresponding to the characteristics, to the media assets. The media guidance application may receive a video-feed request from another location and determine video feed criterion associated with the request. The media guidance application may use a database to determine media assets with characteristics matching the video feed criterion, and may generate for display the media assets in a video feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Reda Harb, Michael R. Nichols, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 10313757
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that provides content recommendations based on recent activity. For example, the media guidance application determines that the user has stopped using the first device and is using the second device. In response, the media guidance application retrieves, from memory, a length of time that the user has consumed media on the first device. The media guidance application then determines the time interval when the user was consuming media on the first device. Next, media content is determined that the user consumed on the first device during the time interval. The media guidance application then determines a characteristic of the consumed media content and recommends media content on a second device based on the characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Danielle Larson, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10271087
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application configured to monitor attentiveness of a user based on the brain activity of the user. For example, a media guidance application may monitor brain activity associated with an attentiveness level of the user and in response to determining the attentiveness level of the user does not correspond to the threshold attentiveness level, perform an operation associated with a low attentiveness level of the user (e.g., performing a scan operation through various content providers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Camron Shimy, William Wagner, Yinghsueh (Annie) Chen, Paul T. Stathacopoulos
  • Patent number: 10257584
    Abstract: An electronic device may insert an advertisement in a cell adjacent to other cells based on displayed programming information when the cells are stationary. An electronic device may insert a second advertisement when the cells move in a direction. The second advertisement may change size based on the direction and available cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Cumnor Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George Gerba, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10187687
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that may enhance viewer experience. The media guidance application may receive video assets from content capture devices at different locations, determine characteristics of the media assets and assign content tags, corresponding to the characteristics, to the media assets. The media guidance application may receive a video-feed request from another location and determine video feed criterion associated with the request. The media guidance application may use a database to determine media assets with characteristics matching the video feed criterion, and may generate for display the media assets in a video feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Reda Harb, Michael R. Nichols, Walter R. Klappert
  • Publication number: 20180330153
    Abstract: In some embodiments, control circuitry may detect a voice communication from a human using voice detection circuitry during playback of a media asset being consumed by the user. Control circuitry may then identify an accent characteristic of the voice communication. Control circuitry may cross-reference the accent characteristic against listings of an accent database and then determine, based on the cross-referencing of the accent characteristic a country of origin of the human. Control circuitry may detect, using imaging circuitry, a gesture made by the human. Control circuitry may then cross-reference the gesture against listings of a gesture database associated with the country of origin and then determine based on the cross-referencing of the gesture, a meaning of the gesture in relation to the media asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Alejandro S. Pulido, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10063901
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that allows access restrictions to be modified in a flexible manner based on the activities of a user. Specifically, the media guidance application detects communications from the user to other devices and based on that communication determines whether or not to modify a level of access restriction to media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Nichols, Sally Cook
  • Patent number: 10043065
    Abstract: In some embodiments, control circuitry may detect a voice communication from a human using voice detection circuitry during playback of a media asset being consumed by the user. Control circuitry may then identify an accent characteristic of the voice communication. Control circuitry may cross-reference the accent characteristic against listings of an accent database and then determine, based on the cross-referencing of the accent characteristic a country of origin of the human. Control circuitry may detect, using imaging circuitry, a gesture made by the human. Control circuitry may then cross-reference the gesture against listings of a gesture database associated with the country of origin and then determine based on the cross-referencing of the gesture, a meaning of the gesture in relation to the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro S. Pulido, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20180192161
    Abstract: An electronic device may insert an advertisement in a cell adjacent to other cells based on displayed programming information when the cells are stationary. An electronic device may insert a second advertisement when the cells move in a direction. The second advertisement may change size based on the direction and available cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: CUMNOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: George Gerba, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9967708
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules are provided. In particular, these methods and systems may store an entertainment profile of a user, wherein the entertainment profile identifies entertainment media characteristics of the user. It may then be determined that the user entered a predetermined range of a location. In response to this, a location-based rule that corresponds to the location and that defines an action to be taken may be automatically identified. Based on the location-based rule, the location, and the entertainment profile of the user, the action may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20180109932
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for expanding the functionality of a print scanner. The scanner may be programmed to invoke a different function if only a portion of a print is detected rather than a full print. In this manner, it would be possible for a user to share a user equipment device such as a smartphone with a friend. The user may wish to share his or her smartphone, and may activate access to the browser that does not include any of the cookies, private passwords, or other login information during a session by using just the tip of the user's finger on a fingerprint scanner, as opposed to the user's full fingerprint. When the user wishes to again have his or her personal information accessible in the browser, the user may activate the browser using the user's full fingerprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Minah Oh, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20180103295
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that provides recommendations to a user viewing a media asset. For example, the media guidance application may provide a recommendation of a media asset based on a user's profile and may modify the user's profile based on the user's actions and keywords in the content of the media asset. For example, the media guidance application may determine whether the media asset is of interest to a user and in response may update the user's profile based on keywords in the media asset. If the media guidance application determines that the media asset is of interest to the user, it may add keywords in the content of the media asset to the user's profile and increase their corresponding weights. Otherwise, the media guidance application may decrease the weights in the user's profile corresponding to keywords in the media asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Dustin Shaw, Michael R. Nichols, Christy Garcia, Tricia Nelson, Derek Martin
  • Publication number: 20180098123
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that provides content recommendations based on recent activity. For example, the media guidance application determines that the user has stopped using the first device and is using the second device. In response, the media guidance application retrieves, from memory, a length of time that the user has consumed media on the first device. The media guidance application then determines the time interval when the user was consuming media on the first device. Next, media content is determined that the user consumed on the first device during the time interval. The media guidance application then determines a characteristic of the consumed media content and recommends media content on a second device based on the characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Danielle Larson, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20180020184
    Abstract: Systems and methods for re-recording content associated with popularity that re-emerged are provided. A plurality of media assets is recorded. Responsive to determining that popularity of a given one of the plurality of media assets fell below a first threshold, the given media asset is selected for deletion and the given media asset is added to a list of a plurality of media assets that have been selected for deletion. Popularity for the given media asset in the list is retrieved after selecting the given media asset for deletion. The retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is compared to a second threshold. In response to determining that the retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is now above the second threshold, an action relating to re-recording the given media asset is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, William L. Thomas, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9860609
    Abstract: Displayed program cells may be moved on an interactive program guide during a first time period based on a received first parameter. A displayed advertisement may be kept stationary during a second time period based on a second parameter. The second time period may be related to a subset of the displayed program cells which will move past the stationary advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Cumnor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: George Gerba, Michael R. Nichols