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).

  • Publication number: 20160345062
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for determining temporally popular content for presentation on a common display. The location and media content preference of each user is determined and then aggregated across the plurality of users in the space to determine the media content that fits the plurality of users. For example, if a significant number of the users in the restaurant have a preference for watching a news station (e.g., CNN), one of the televisions in the restaurant one adapt accordingly. This helps ensure that users are able to find and watch content that is meaningful to them in public spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Sean William Rosqvist
  • Publication number: 20160269804
    Abstract: Program cells of an electronic guide may be generated on a display device in an electronic device. An advertisement cell may be moved based on movement of the program cells. The advertisement cell may be kept stationary when the program cells scroll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Cumnor Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George Gerba, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160269881
    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: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Minah Oh, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9424584
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying user preferences in a tag cloud are provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. A user preference tag cloud may be of any shape and size and may be generated using a stencil selected by a user. A user preference tag cloud may thus present a user's media preferences in an attractive and compelling visual arrangement that, in some embodiments, also functions as an intuitive interface which allows users to indicate and/or modify their preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160185043
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Jason Lam
  • Publication number: 20160192005
    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: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Danielle Larson, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160182934
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael R. Nichols, Sally Cook
  • Publication number: 20160180108
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael R. Nichols, Sally Cook
  • Patent number: 9367131
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application configured to generate for display an icon that provides feedback to a user related to the current brain activity of the user. For example, a media guidance application may monitor the brain activity of the user in order to determine whether or not to perform a particular operation. The media guidance application may further generate a display of icons that inform the user of the current brain activity of the user and/or the progress of the user towards achieving a particular operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Camron Shimy, William Wagner, Yinghsueh Chen, Paul Stathacopoulos
  • Publication number: 20160165175
    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: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, William L. Thomas, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9349034
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Minah Oh, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160127762
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating shadows for a media guidance application are provided. A display of a media asset is generated that includes a media object with a shadow at an object shadow position. Object shadow information is stored corresponding to the shadow of the object and the object shadow position. In response to receiving a user request to access a media guidance application, a media guidance application display corresponding to the user request is selected. A guide shadow is generated based on the stored object shadow information and the media guidance application display. The guide shadow is combined with the media guidance application display for display to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160117542
    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: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Minah Oh, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160085295
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that improves the customization and calibration of user devices to a particular user. For example, in response to erroneously detecting (or failing to detect) a user input of a first type, the media guidance application may re-calibrate the user device based on subsequent corrective inputs issued using a second input type such that future user inputs of the first type will not be erroneously detected (or fail to be detected).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Camron Shimy, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9294802
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application which may control a user device, which may receive a radio-frequency signal from a user device, corresponding to an electromyography signature received from a user. The media guidance application may also cross-reference the electromyography signature with first and second databases to determine an attempted user motion and a media guidance application operation corresponding to the electromyography signature. In response to determining the media guidance application operation to be performed, the media guidance application may perform said media guidance application operation on the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Nichols, Danielle Larson
  • Patent number: 9294823
    Abstract: Program cells of an electronic guide may be generated on a display device in an electronic device. An advertisement cell may be moved based on movement of the program cells. The advertisement cell may be kept stationary when the program cells scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cumnor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: George Gerba, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9288431
    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: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, William L. Thomas, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160055879
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically performing a media action based on the status of external components are provided. A media asset is determined to be presented on a user equipment device. Components external to the user equipment device are monitored to obtain status information pertaining to the components. A determination is made as to whether a media action is associated with the status information. The identified media action is performed for the media asset in response to determining that the media asset is associated with the status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: China Arai, Michael R. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20160029169
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9191720
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting user-generated content in as easily accessible manner using an interactive media guide are provided. In particular, a user may be able to peruse user-generated content through an interactive media guide which is also used to access non-user-generated media content such as linear programming (e.g., over-the-air broadcast, cable, and satellite scheduled programming) and on-demand media. The interactive media guide may include a provider of user-generated content populated with user-generated content according to the user's interests or most recently added to the provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka Chun Wong, Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Brian Riegel, Michael Papish, Adam Powers