Patents by Inventor Scott R. Swix

Scott R. Swix 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: 11317165
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Publication number: 20200260155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 10674227
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Publication number: 20180227645
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 9967633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effectively and efficiently receiving, analyzing, and using subscriber content choice information are described. One embodiment of the present invention includes a subscriber-action database, such as a clickstream database, a media-content database, and a merge processor electronically connected to the two databases for merging data in the subscriber-action database with data in the media-content database to create a subscriber content-choice database. The media-content database may include programming and/or advertising data. The media-content database may also include category and context information to provide the capability to comprehensively analyze data in the subscriber content-choice database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 9712883
    Abstract: A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, John Stefanik
  • Publication number: 20150135204
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products evaluate a performance of a viewer watching a video stream. Prompts are displayed during the video stream, and the prompts elicit a response from a viewer. If the viewer timely responds to the prompts, then the viewer may be rewarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, William R. Matz
  • Publication number: 20150074701
    Abstract: An option list is customized for a user. Titles are retrieved that are related to the user's historical preference for content. A content database is then searched for an additional title of content that is unrelated to the user's historical preference for content. The option list is generated to include the titles and the additional title.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8959542
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products evaluate performance of a viewer watching programming. A prompt is displayed, and the viewer enters a response to the prompt. The performance of the viewer is based at least partly on a time of the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, William R. Matz
  • Publication number: 20150020108
    Abstract: A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, John Stefanik
  • Publication number: 20140316882
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products manage advertisements. An advertiser submits multiple advertisements for an advertisement slot in media programming. As viewership and/or demographics change, different ones of the advertisements may be selected for delivery to customer devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, William R. Matz
  • Patent number: 8856841
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products describe customizing the presentation of a content-access list. A preference for a subscriber is received, and a content database is searched for content related to the preference and for content unrelated to the preference. An option list is received including an option, and a non-preference-related option is also received. The non-preference-related option is added to the option list, and the option list is sent to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, William R. Matz
  • Patent number: 8812363
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing advertisements. An advertisement time slot is categorized as overrideable or non-overrideable. The overrideable advertisement time slot categorization allows an associated advertisement to be replaced with a different advertisement. The non-overrideable advertisement time slot may not allow replacement of the associated advertisement. When an advertiser requests to replace the advertisement, and when the advertisement time slot is categorized as overrideable, then the advertisement is replaced with the different advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, William R. Matz
  • Publication number: 20140201783
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products tailor content to users. Clickstream data is merged with content information and compared to advertising attributes of advertisements. If a match is found, an associated advertisement is targeted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8739220
    Abstract: A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, John Stefanik
  • Patent number: 8700419
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products tailor content to users. Clickstream data is merged with a user attribute and content information. A merged record is compared to advertising attributes of advertisements. When the merged record matches an advertising attribute, an advertisement associated with the advertising attribute is retrieved and sent to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8640158
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products modify and/or block content. A program is received, along with a default rating of the program and dynamic ratings of portions of the program. A preference is received from memory to at least one of block and modify the program. When a dynamic rating is missing for a portion of the program, then revert to the default rating and block the portion of the program from presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: George A. Durden, John R. Stefanik, Scott R. Swix
  • Publication number: 20140007151
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products target advertisements to users. Clickstream data is received and compared to a purchase history. When a common attribute is determined, an advertisement associated with the attribute is retrieved and targeted to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8584185
    Abstract: A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, Paul T. Watson, James H. Gray
  • Patent number: 8548820
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products target advertisements to users. Clickstream data is received and compared to a purchase history. When a common attribute is determined, an advertisement associated with the attribute is retrieved and targeted to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellecutal Property I. L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix