Patents by Inventor Shashank Merchant

Shashank Merchant 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: 20210409794
    Abstract: One high-level aspect of a content-modification system and related methods may involve facilitating content modification by a content-presentation device of received broadcast content in a controlled manner, while under circumstances in which some events that can impact timing may be unpredictable. In particular, certain operations by a content-presentation device may involve matching received content with specific expected content as determined by one or another component of the content-modification system, in order to confirm proper conditions are met for the content-presentation device to proceed with, or continue, content-modification operations. It can happen the matching procedure becomes subject or susceptible to timing irregularities, or jitter. In some instances, jitter may impact the ability to derive the benefits of content modification. Accordingly, example embodiments herein are directed to systems and method for compensation and/or mitigating the effects of jitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Bruce William Randall, Brian Johnson, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Paul Jeffrey Holmquist
  • Publication number: 20210409793
    Abstract: One high-level aspect of a content-modification system and related methods may involve facilitating content modification by a content-presentation device of received broadcast content in a controlled manner, while under circumstances in which some events that can impact timing may be unpredictable. In particular, certain operations by a content-presentation device may involve matching received content with specific expected content as determined by one or another component of the content-modification system, in order to confirm proper conditions are met for the content-presentation device to proceed with, or continue, content-modification operations. It can happen the matching procedure becomes subject or susceptible to timing irregularities, or jitter. In some instances, jitter may impact the ability to derive the benefits of content modification. Accordingly, example embodiments herein are directed to systems and method for compensation and/or mitigating the effects of jitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Bruce William Randall, Brian Johnson, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Paul Jeffrey Holmquist
  • Publication number: 20210409806
    Abstract: One high-level aspect of a content-modification system and related methods may involve facilitating content modification by a content-presentation device of received broadcast content in a controlled manner, while under circumstances in which some events that can impact timing may be unpredictable. In particular, certain operations by a content-presentation device may involve matching received content with specific expected content as determined by one or another component of the content-modification system, in order to confirm proper conditions are met for the content-presentation device to proceed with, or continue, content-modification operations. It can happen the matching procedure becomes subject or susceptible to timing irregularities, or jitter. In some instances, jitter may impact the ability to derive the benefits of content modification. Accordingly, example embodiments herein are directed to systems and method for compensation and/or mitigating the effects of jitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Bruce William Randall, Brian Johnson, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Paul Jeffrey Holmquist
  • Publication number: 20210377585
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content-modification opportunity on a channel, where the upcoming content-modification opportunity relates to a modifiable content-segment transmitted by a content-distribution system on the channel, and where the modifiable content-segment includes an overlay content portion and a non-overlay content portion. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the channel. The method also includes determining location data associated with the overlay content portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher, Steven Michael Cormie, Markus Kurt Peter Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Andreas Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210375276
    Abstract: Audio distortion compensation methods to improve accuracy and efficiency of audio content identification are described. The method is also applicable to speech recognition. Methods to detect the interference from speakers and sources, and distortion to audio from environment and devices, are discussed. Additional methods to detect distortion to the content after performing search and correlation are illustrated. The causes of actual distortion at each client are measured and registered and learnt to generate rules for determining likely distortion and interference sources. The learnt rules are applied at the client, and likely distortions that are detected are compensated or heavily distorted sections are ignored at audio level or signature and feature level based on compute resources available. Further methods to subtract the likely distortions in the query at both audio level and after processing at signature and feature level are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Mihailo M. Stojancic, Shashank Merchant, Peter Wendt
  • Patent number: 11188587
    Abstract: The overall architecture and details of a scalable video fingerprinting and identification system that is robust with respect to many classes of video distortions is described. In this system, a fingerprint for a piece of multimedia content is composed of a number of compact signatures, along with traversal hash signatures and associated metadata. Numerical descriptors are generated for features found in a multimedia clip, signatures are generated from these descriptors, and a reference signature database is constructed from these signatures. Query signatures are also generated for a query multimedia clip. These query signatures are searched against the reference database using a fast similarity search procedure, to produce a candidate list of matching signatures. This candidate list is further analyzed to find the most likely reference matches. Signature correlation is performed between the likely reference matches and the query clip to improve detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Prashant Ramanathan, Pradipkumar Dineshbhai Gajjar
  • Patent number: 11163818
    Abstract: The overall architecture and details of a scalable video fingerprinting and identification system that is robust with respect to many classes of video distortions is described. In this system, a fingerprint for a piece of multimedia content is composed of a number of compact signatures, along with traversal hash signatures and associated metadata. Numerical descriptors are generated for features found in a multimedia clip, signatures are generated from these descriptors, and a reference signature database is constructed from these signatures. Query signatures are also generated for a query multimedia clip. These query signatures are searched against the reference database using a fast similarity search procedure, to produce a candidate list of matching signatures. This candidate list is further analyzed to find the most likely reference matches. Signature correlation is performed between the likely reference matches and the query clip to improve detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Prashant Ramanathan, Pradipkumar Dineshbhai Gajjar
  • Publication number: 20210311697
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a loudness level of first media content that the playback device is receiving from a first source; (ii) comparing, by the playback device, the determined loudness level of the first media content with a reference loudness level indicated by a loudness level profile for the first media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a target volume level for the playback device based on a difference between the determined loudness level of the first media content and the reference loudness level; and (iv) while the playback device presents second media content from a second source in place of the first media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device toward the target volume level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Robert Coover, Todd J. Hodges, Joshua Ernest Morris
  • Patent number: 11140439
    Abstract: A mobile device responds in real time to media content presented on a media device, such as a television. The mobile device captures temporal fragments of audio-video content on its microphone, camera, or both and generates corresponding audio-video query fingerprints. The query fingerprints are transmitted to a search server located remotely or used with a search function on the mobile device for content search and identification. Audio features are extracted and audio signal global onset detection is used for input audio frame alignment. Additional audio feature signatures are generated from local audio frame onsets, audio frame frequency domain entropy, and maximum change in the spectral coefficients. Video frames are analyzed to find a television screen in the frames, and a detected active television quadrilateral is used to generate video fingerprints to be combined with audio fingerprints for more reliable content identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihailo M. Stojancic, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Jose Pio Pereira, Oleksiy Bolgarov
  • Patent number: 11132997
    Abstract: Audio distortion compensation methods to improve accuracy and efficiency of audio content identification are described. The method is also applicable to speech recognition. Methods to detect the interference from speakers and sources, and distortion to audio from environment and devices are discussed. Additional methods to detect distortion to the content after performing search and correlation are illustrated. The causes of actual distortion at each client are measured and registered and learnt to generate rules for determining likely distortion and interference sources. The learnt rules are applied at the client, and likely distortions that are detected are compensated or heavily distorted sections are ignored at audio level or signature and feature level based on compute resources available. Further methods to subtract the likely distortions in the query at both audio level and after processing at signature and feature level are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Mihailo M. Stojancic, Shashank Merchant, Peter Wendt
  • Patent number: 11134292
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying an upcoming content-modification opportunity on a channel, where the upcoming content-modification opportunity relates to a modifiable content-segment transmitted by a content-distribution system on the channel, and where the modifiable content-segment includes an overlay content portion and a non-overlay content portion. The method also includes responsive to identifying the upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the channel. The method also includes determining location data associated with the overlay content portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher, Steven Michael Cormie, Markus Kurt Peter Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Andreas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11126654
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional database and indexes and operations on the multi-dimensional database are described which include video search applications or other similar sequence or structure searches. Traversal indexes utilize highly discriminative information about images and video sequences or about object shapes. Global and local signatures around keypoints are used for compact and robust retrieval and discriminative information content of images or video sequences of interest. For other objects or structures relevant signature of pattern or structure are used for traversal indexes. Traversal indexes are stored in leaf nodes along with distance measures and occurrence of similar images in the database. During a sequence query, correlation scores are calculated for single frame, for frame sequence, and video clips, or for other objects or structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Mihailo M. Stojancic, Shashank Merchant
  • Patent number: 11120068
    Abstract: The overall architecture and details of a scalable video fingerprinting and identification system that is robust with respect to many classes of video distortions is described. In this system, a fingerprint for a piece of multimedia content is composed of a number of compact signatures, along with traversal hash signatures and associated metadata. Numerical descriptors are generated for features found in a multimedia clip, signatures are generated from these descriptors, and a reference signature database is constructed from these signatures. Query signatures are also generated for a query multimedia clip. These query signatures are searched against the reference database using a fast similarity search procedure, to produce a candidate list of matching signatures. This candidate list is further analyzed to find the most likely reference matches. Signature correlation is performed between the likely reference matches and the query clip to improve detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Pio Pereira, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Prashant Ramanathan, Pradipkumar Dineshbhai Gajjar
  • Publication number: 20210271448
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a first loudness level of a first portion of first media content from a first source while the playback device presents the first media content, with the first portion having a first length; (ii) switching, by the playback device, from presenting the first media content from the first source to presenting second media content from a second source; (iii) based on the switching, determining, by the playback device, second loudness levels of second portions of the first media content while the playback device presents the second media content, with the second portions having a second length that is shorter than the first length; and (iv) while the playback device presents the second media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device based on one or more of the second loudness levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Robert Coover, Todd J. Hodges, Joshua Ernest Morris
  • Patent number: 11095944
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes (i) accessing, by a computing system, broadcast-schedule data associated with a channel; (ii) using, by the computing system, the accessed broadcast-schedule data to identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that a content-presentation device is receiving content on the channel; (iv) determining, by the computing system, a content-transmission delay associated with the content-presentation device and the channel; and (v) causing, by the computing system, the content-presentation device to perform an action to facilitate the content-presentation device performing, during a time-period that accounts for the determined content-transmission delay, a content-modification operation related to the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher, Steven Michael Cormie, John L Haynes, III, Shashank Merchant, Benjamin J. Ropke, Markus Kurt Peter Cremer
  • Patent number: 11068232
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a loudness level of first media content that the playback device is receiving from a first source; (ii) comparing, by the playback device, the determined loudness level of the first media content with a reference loudness level indicated by a loudness level profile for the first media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a target volume level for the playback device based on a difference between the determined loudness level of the first media content and the reference loudness level; and (iv) while the playback device presents second media content from a second source in place of the first media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device toward the target volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Robert Coover, Todd J. Hodges, Joshua Ernest Morris
  • Patent number: 11042585
    Abstract: The overall architecture and details of a scalable video fingerprinting and identification system that is robust with respect to many classes of video distortions is described. In this system, a fingerprint for a piece of multimedia content is composed of a number of compact signatures, along with traversal hash signatures and associated metadata. Numerical descriptors are generated for features found in a multimedia clip, signatures are generated from these descriptors, and a reference signature database is constructed from these signatures. Query signatures are also generated for a query multimedia clip. These query signatures are searched against the reference database using a fast similarity search procedure, to produce a candidate list of matching signatures. This candidate list is further analyzed to find the most likely reference matches. Signature correlation is performed between the likely reference matches and the query clip to improve detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Ramanathan, Jose Pio Pereira, Shashank Merchant, Mihailo M. Stojancic
  • Patent number: 11042353
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a first loudness level of a first portion of first media content from a first source while the playback device presents the first media content, with the first portion having a first length; (ii) switching, by the playback device, from presenting the first media content from the first source to presenting second media content from a second source; (iii) based on the switching, determining, by the playback device, second loudness levels of second portions of the first media content while the playback device presents the second media content, with the second portions having a second length that is shorter than the first length; and (iv) while the playback device presents the second media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device based on one or more of the second loudness levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Robert Coover, Todd J. Hodges, Joshua Ernest Morris
  • Patent number: 11036783
    Abstract: The overall architecture and details of a scalable video fingerprinting and identification system that is robust with respect to many classes of video distortions is described. In this system, a fingerprint for a piece of multimedia content is composed of a number of compact signatures, along with traversal hash signatures and associated metadata. Numerical descriptors are generated for features found in a multimedia clip, signatures are generated from these descriptors, and a reference signature database is constructed from these signatures. Query signatures are also generated for a query multimedia clip. These query signatures are searched against the reference database using a fast similarity search procedure, to produce a candidate list of matching signatures. This candidate list is further analyzed to find the most likely reference matches. Signature correlation is performed between the likely reference matches and the query clip to improve detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Ramanathan, Jose Pio Pereira, Shashank Merchant, Mihailo M. Stojancic
  • Patent number: RE48791
    Abstract: An architecture for a multimedia search system is described. To perform similarity matching of multimedia query frames against reference content, reference database comprising of a cluster index using cluster keys to perform similarity matching and a multimedia index to perform sequence matching is built. Methods to update and maintain the reference database that enables addition and removal of the multimedia contents, including portions of multimedia content, from the reference database in a running system are described. Hierarchical multi-level partitioning methods to organize the reference database are presented. Smart partitioning of the reference multimedia content according to the nature of the multimedia content, and according to the popularity among the social media, that supports scalable fast multimedia identification is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Jose Pio Pereira, Pradipkumar Dineshbhai Gajjar, Shashank Merchant, Prashant Ramanathan, Mihailo M. Stojancic