Patents by Inventor Niels J. Thorwirth

Niels J. Thorwirth 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: 11611808
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding multiple video streams with digital watermarking for adaptive bitrate streaming in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 10691830
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preserving privacy in distribution of content using private tokens in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of anonymously tracking a digital content and remediating unauthorized distribution includes generating a private token including an identifier distinguishable from tokens generated by other playback devices and the association with the playback device is not shared, receiving a portion of content, embedding a digital watermark in the content, where the digital watermark includes the private token, detecting an unauthorized copy of the content, extracting the digital watermark from the unauthorized copy of the content, broadcasting an enforcement message containing the private token to the playback devices, receiving the enforcement message, and performing an enforcement action on the playback device in response, where only a playback device that generated the private token responds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Munro, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20200186894
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding multiple video streams with digital watermarking for adaptive bitrate streaming in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 10591984
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid content switching between pieces of content presented in a plurality of stations using streaming content distribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Timothy J. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 10454671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for securing communications in a playback device using a key base and at least one key contribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a process includes generating a key base using a decryption key and at least one key contribution, where the decryption key can be recovered using the key base and the at least one key contribution, receiving the key base, receiving the at least one key contribution, sending the key base to a decryption module, sending the key contribution to a control module, performing a control feature on the piece of content using the control module, providing the key contribution to the decryption module when the control feature is performed, generating the decryption key using the key base and the at least one key contribution, and accessing at least a portion of the piece of content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Petr Peterka, Klaus Schenk, Ingo Barth
  • Publication number: 20190012480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for retroactive assignment of personally identifiable information in distribution of content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of controlling anonymity of user profiles includes generating an intermediate identifier using a playback device, where the intermediate identifier is random and different from intermediate identifiers used by other playback devices and is not known to be associated with the playback device by entities other than the playback device, sending the intermediate identifier associated with consumption data concerning content files that have been accessed on the playback device to an audience measurement server, aggregating the consumption data into an anonymous user profile, sending personally identifiable information about a user of the playback device to the audience measurement server, and combining the personally identifiable information about the user with the anonymous user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20190012439
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preserving privacy in distribution of content using private tokens in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of anonymously tracking a digital content and remediating unauthorized distribution includes generating a private token including an identifier distinguishable from tokens generated by other playback devices and the association with the playback device is not shared, receiving a portion of content, embedding a digital watermark in the content, where the digital watermark includes the private token, detecting an unauthorized copy of the content, extracting the digital watermark from the unauthorized copy of the content, broadcasting an enforcement message containing the private token to the playback devices, receiving the enforcement message, and performing an enforcement action on the playback device in response, where only a playback device that generated the private token responds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Munro, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 10045093
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enhance the security of content distribution using individualized playlists. In many embodiments, a playlist is individually composed for a client device so that the selection of content included in the playlist encodes information. One embodiment includes generating a watermark sequence, where each watermark sequence is a unique identifier, selecting between alternative chunks of encoded content based upon the watermark sequence, where each of the alternative chunks of encoded content includes the same perceptual content and differs in the way it is watermarked, and listing the selected chunks in a playlist, where content assembled using the playlist includes a unique watermark sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20180129273
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid content switching between pieces of content presented in a plurality of stations using streaming content distribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Timothy J. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 9900306
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that authenticate devices or users, and enable playback of secured streaming content through a media player. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for receiving secure content over an unmanaged network, including a security application configured operate on a user device with access to a network, where the security application is configured to receive a request for playlist data from the media player, send a playlist request to a content server, receive playlist data from the content server, send playlist data to a media player, receive a security access request from the media player, send a security access request to a security server, receive security access data from the security server; and send security access data to a media player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Handal, Matthew E. Messerman, Akinwale Olugbemiga Olugbile, Petr Peterka, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20170347152
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting audience measurement data using content protection signaling messages while playing back content are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yam, Niels J. Thorwirth, Petr Peterka
  • Patent number: 9804668
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid content switching between pieces of content presented in a plurality of stations using streaming content distribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Timothy J. Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20170302446
    Abstract: Systems and methods for securing communications in a playback device using a key base and at least one key contribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a process includes generating a key base using a decryption key and at least one key contribution, where the decryption key can be recovered using the key base and the at least one key contribution, receiving the key base, receiving the at least one key contribution, sending the key base to a decryption module, sending the key contribution to a control module, performing a control feature on the piece of content using the control module, providing the key contribution to the decryption module when the control feature is performed, generating the decryption key using the key base and the at least one key contribution, and accessing at least a portion of the piece of content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Petr Peterka, Klaus Schenk, Ingo Barth
  • Publication number: 20170208372
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enhance the security of content distribution using individualized playlists. In many embodiments, a playlist is individually composed for a client device so that the selection of content included in the playlist encodes information. One embodiment includes generating a watermark sequence, where each watermark sequence is a unique identifier, selecting between alternative chunks of encoded content based upon the watermark sequence, where each of the alternative chunks of encoded content includes the same perceptual content and differs in the way it is watermarked, and listing the selected chunks in a playlist, where content assembled using the playlist includes a unique watermark sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 9648022
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Peterka, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20170116693
    Abstract: Systems and methods for decentralizing commerce and rights management for digital assets using a blockchain rights ledger in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Rae, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 9532113
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enhance the security of content distribution using individualized playlists. In many embodiments, a playlist is individually composed for a client device so that the selection of content included in the playlist encodes information. One embodiment includes generating a watermark sequence, where each watermark sequence is a unique identifier, selecting between alternative chunks of encoded content based upon the watermark sequence, where each of the alternative chunks of encoded content includes the same perceptual content and differs in the way it is watermarked, and listing the selected chunks in a playlist, where content assembled using the playlist includes a unique watermark sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Publication number: 20160105719
    Abstract: System and method for identification of ownership to media objects through analysis of semantic information in the media objects are disclosed. Semantic information is a term that can be used to describe aspects of the content of a media object that are apparent to a human viewing or listening to the content. In many embodiments, the media object is analyzed for semantic information that are indicative of media ownership such as, but not limited to, station identification logos, franchise logos (e.g., the title credits of a popular television series), theme songs, the distinctive voice of a news presenter, the face and/or voice of an actor and/or other characteristics of the media object are used as a basis for determining entities associated with the media object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Thomas A. Munro, Robert T. Kulakowski
  • Publication number: 20160099944
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Peterka, Niels J. Thorwirth
  • Patent number: 9226047
    Abstract: System and method for identification of ownership to media objects through analysis of semantic information in the media objects are disclosed Semantic information is a term that can be used to describe aspects of the content of a media object that are apparent to a human viewing or listening to the content One embodiment of the invention includes extracting semantic information from a specified media object, matching said semantic information of the specified media object against known semantic information of known media objects, and taking action based on the result of the companson.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels J. Thorwirth, Thomas Munro