Patents by Inventor Steven Machanic

Steven Machanic 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: 10070184
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a content distribution system that removes time-dependent promotional content before providing a recording of a media presentation (e.g., show or program) to a video-on-demand (VOD) provider. To receive Nielsen credit for a subscriber watching a recording of the media presentation using VOD, the recording must be almost the same as the live version of the media presentation which includes the original program content and the commercial advertisements shown during commercial breaks. However, some shows also include promotional content that a telecommunication or cable provider adds to the media presentation to promote other shows or events being broadcasted later. By the time the user views the recording, however, the promotional content may already be outdated. The embodiments herein describe techniques for removing time-dependent promotional content from a media presentation before the recording of the media presentation is sent to VOD providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Machanic, Robert Jensen, Hugh McGuire, Raul Rapalo, Michael Strein, Vladislav Feldman, Jeffrey Corwin, Kenneth Michel
  • Patent number: 9872060
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving a first unit of video data on a first input/output (I/O) channel, of a plurality of I/O channels of a digital video recorder, computing a first value by applying an error-detecting function to the first unit of video data, attempting to write the first unit of video data to a storage location of a storage device communicably coupled to the digital video recorder, computing, after attempting to write the first unit of video data, a second value by applying the error-detecting function to a data stored at the storage location of the storage device, and upon determining that the first and second values are not equal, storing an indication that the first unit of video data was not successfully written to the storage location of the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladislav Feldman, Michael J. Strein, Steven Machanic, Efthimis Stefanidis
  • Publication number: 20180007434
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a content distribution system that removes time-dependent promotional content before providing a recording of a media presentation (e.g., show or program) to a video-on-demand (VOD) provider. To receive Nielsen credit for a subscriber watching a recording of the media presentation using VOD, the recording must be almost the same as the live version of the media presentation which includes the original program content and the commercial advertisements shown during commercial breaks. However, some shows also include promotional content that a telecommunication or cable provider adds to the media presentation to promote other shows or events being broadcasted later. By the time the user views the recording, however, the promotional content may already be outdated. The embodiments herein describe techniques for removing time-dependent promotional content from a media presentation before the recording of the media presentation is sent to VOD providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Steven MACHANIC, Robert JENSEN, Hugh MCGUIRE, Raul RAPALO, Michael STREIN, Vladislav FELDMAN, Jeffrey CORWIN, Kenneth MICHEL
  • Publication number: 20170374405
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving a first unit of video data on a first input/output (I/O) channel, of a plurality of I/O channels of a digital video recorder, computing a first value by applying an error-detecting function to the first unit of video data, attempting to write the first unit of video data to a storage location of a storage device communicably coupled to the digital video recorder, computing, after attempting to write the first unit of video data, a second value by applying the error-detecting function to a data stored at the storage location of the storage device, and upon determining that the first and second values are not equal, storing an indication that the first unit of video data was not successfully written to the storage location of the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Vladislav FELDMAN, Michael J. STREIN, Steven MACHANIC, Efthimis STEFANIDIS
  • Patent number: 9729926
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a content distribution system that removes time-dependent promotional content before providing a recording of a media presentation (e.g., show or program) to a video-on-demand (VOD) provider. To receive Nielsen credit for a subscriber watching a recording of the media presentation using VOD, the recording must be almost the same as the live version of the media presentation which includes the original program content and the commercial advertisements shown during commercial breaks. However, some shows also include promotional content that a telecommunication or cable provider adds to the media presentation to promote other shows or events being broadcasted later. By the time the user views the recording, however, the promotional content may already be outdated. The embodiments herein describe techniques for removing time-dependent promotional content from a media presentation before the recording of the media presentation is sent to VOD providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Machanic, Robert Jensen, Hugh McGuire, Raul Rapalo, Michael Strein, Vladislav Feldman, Jeffrey Corwin, Kenneth Michel
  • Patent number: 9351030
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to insert frame accurate triggers in media programs, by receiving indication that a first tally, of a plurality of tallies, is active, the first tally corresponding to a media program, identifying a type of the first tally, generating a trigger based on the type of the first tally, and inserting a message in the media program responsive to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Steven Machanic, Kenneth J. Michel, Anil Abraham
  • Publication number: 20140259051
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to insert frame accurate triggers in media programs, by receiving indication that a first tally, of a plurality of tallies, is active, the first tally corresponding to a media program, identifying a type of the first tally, generating a trigger based on the type of the first tally, and inserting a message in the media program responsive to the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Steven Machanic, Kenneth J. Michel, Anil Abraham
  • Patent number: 8484674
    Abstract: A system for dynamically transmitting network alert system (NAS) information from a television network to an affiliate station using information embedded in an HDTV signal includes a program data server configured to provide network alert system (NAS) data, a network video programming source configured to provide network video programming, a data inserter configured to insert the NAS data into vertical ancillary (VANC) space of a high definition television (HDTV) signal to develop a combined network video programming and NAS data signal, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the combined network video programming and NAS data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Kenneth J. Michel, Steven Machanic
  • Publication number: 20120117592
    Abstract: A system for dynamically transmitting network alert system (NAS) information from a television network to an affiliate station using information embedded in an HDTV signal includes a program data server configured to provide network alert system (NAS) data, a network video programming source configured to provide network video programming, a data inserter configured to insert the NAS data into vertical ancillary (VANC) space of a high definition television (HDTV) signal to develop a combined network video programming and NAS data signal, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the combined network video programming and NAS data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Kenneth J. Michel, Steven Machanic
  • Patent number: 8136134
    Abstract: A system for dynamically transmitting network alert system (NAS) information from a television network to an affiliate station using information embedded in an HDTV signal includes a program data server configured to provide network alert system (NAS) data, a network video programming source configured to provide network video programming, a data inserter configured to insert the NAS data into vertical ancillary (VANC) space of a high definition television (HDTV) signal to develop a combined network video programming and NAS data signal, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the combined network video programming and NAS data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Kenneth J. Michel, Steven Machanic
  • Publication number: 20090231488
    Abstract: A system for dynamically transmitting network alert system (NAS) information from a television network to an affiliate station using information embedded in an HDTV signal includes a program data server configured to provide network alert system (NAS) data, a network video programming source configured to provide network video programming, a data inserter configured to insert the NAS data into vertical ancillary (VANC) space of a high definition television (HDTV) signal to develop a combined network video programming and NAS data signal, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the combined network video programming and NAS data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Kenneth J. Michel, Steven Machanic