Patents by Inventor Sam C. S. Yu

Sam C. S. Yu 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).

  • Methods and systems that motivate tuning to a transmission channel for a time period
    Patent number: 8561098
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert Y. M. Hon, Sam C. S. Yu, Mike H. P. Tsui, Brian Fife
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS THAT MOTIVATE TUNING TO A TRANSMISSION CHANNEL FOR A TIME PERIOD
    Publication number: 20120174148
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gilbert Y.M. Hon, Sam C.S. Yu, Mike H.P. Tsui, Brian Fife
  • Methods and systems that motivate tuning to a transmission channel for a time period
    Patent number: 8091102
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert Y. M. Hon, Sam C. S. Yu, Mike H. P. Tsui, Brian Fife
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS THAT MOTIVATE TUNING TO A TRANSMISSION CHANNEL FOR A TIME PERIOD
    Publication number: 20090158311
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gilbert Y.M. Hon, Sam C.S. Yu, Mike H.P. Tsui, Brian Fife