Patents by Inventor William L. Thomas

William L. Thomas 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: 11375287
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a viewer with relevant commentary for a live video. For example, a media guidance application may receive, during playback of a live video, a request for clarification regarding an aspect (e.g., a play, a score, a player, a strategy, etc.) of the live video. In response to receiving the request, the media guidance application may identify the aspect and identify videos generated by other viewers explaining the aspect. The media guidance application may further select one of the videos based on a preference of the viewer, and cause a user device to play back the selected video to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Miguel Sanchez, Dylan Matthew Wondra, Jean Michelle Somlo, Michaela Schlocker Logan, William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11363343
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that aggregates media content and media guidance data for users. For example, the media guidance application may aggregate content from numerous providers and provide the content through a single interface. Moreover, the media guidance application described herein may provide service providers with finder's fees for sharing information about media assets that users are interested in viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ROVl GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Walter R. Klappert, Richard M. Beaty
  • Patent number: 11363320
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing subscriptions. A media guidance application obtaining viewing patterns of a subscriber and determining a first and second media package of interest to the subscriber. A first and second release schedule are obtained related to media content in the first and second media packages. The media guidance application predicts a first viewing impact of the first subscription and a second viewing impact of the second subscription, for the upcoming time period, wherein the viewing impact indicates a total predicted amount of time spent viewing the media packages in the upcoming time period. An available amount of time for viewing media in the upcoming time period is also determined. The media guidance application generates a subscription recommendation for the upcoming time period based on the first viewing impact, second viewing impact, and available amount of time for viewing media in the upcoming time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bates, Hafiza Jameela, Jesse F. Patterson, Mark K. Berner, Eric Dorsey, Jonathan A. Logan, David W. Chamberlin, Paul Stevens, Herbert A. Waterman, William L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220174069
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing access to media content by connecting, to a public device, a private device that has an installed application associated with the media content. A media guidance application may receive a communication from a private device, running a private interface application, requesting to access content using the public device. In response, the media guidance application may retrieve, at the public device, a public interface application associated with the private interface application, from a content provider of the content. The private interface application may be configured to control a graphical user interface of the public interface application. Accordingly, the user may be able to access content via the public device when the private device is within a predetermined proximity to the public device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventor: William L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220167039
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein such that, a media guidance application presents, in an interactive program guide, a virtual content source for binge watching a program series. The media guidance application may determine a program series a user is currently watching. The media guidance application may receive a user selection of a media asset. The media guidance application may determine a length of time between a current time and a start time of the media asset. The media guidance application may determine the next episodes of the program series the user can watch before the start time of the media asset and present them using a virtual content source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Margret B. Schmidt, Alexander W. Liston, Jonathan A. Logan, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Mathew C. Burns, Ajay Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220159324
    Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry receives, at a content provider server that is associated with a first subscription service, a first authentication key from a content aggregator server that is associated with a second subscription service, prior to the user subscribing to the first subscription service. The control circuitry generates and stores, at the content provider server, the first user account after comparing the first authentication key to acceptable authentication. In response to storing the first user account, the control circuitry receives a request from the content aggregator server to subscribe the user to the first subscription service, wherein the request includes a second authentication key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 11284143
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that manages media subscriptions between a user and a content provider. In particular, the media guidance application may automatically identify subscription terms that are beneficial for both a user and for a content provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Paul T. Stathacopoulos, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 11284146
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein such that, a media guidance application presents, in an interactive program guide, a virtual content source for binge watching a program series. The media guidance application may determine a program series a user is currently watching. The media guidance application may receive a user selection of a media asset. The media guidance application may determine a length of time between a current time and a start time of the media asset. The media guidance application may determine the next episodes of the program series the user can watch before the start time of the media asset and present them using a virtual content source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Margret B. Schmidt, Alexander W. Liston, Jonathan A. Logan, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Mathew C. Burns, Ajay Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11283808
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing access to media content by connecting, to a public device, a private device that has an installed application associated with the media content. A media guidance application may receive a communication from a private device, running a private interface application, requesting to access content using the public device. In response, the media guidance application may retrieve, at the public device, a public interface application associated with the private interface application, from a content provider of the content. The private interface application may be configured to control a graphical user interface of the public interface application. Accordingly, the user may be able to access content via the public device when the private device is within a predetermined proximity to the public device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210409826
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing streamlined access to media assets of interest to a user. The method includes determining that a supplemental viewing device, through which a user views a field of view, is directed at a first field of view. The method further involves detecting that the supplemental viewing device is now directed at a second field of view, and determining that a media consumption device is within the second field of view. A first media asset of interest to the user that is available for consumption via the media consumption device is identified, and the supplemental viewing device generates a visual indication in the second field of view. The visual indication indicates that the first media asset is available for consumption via the media consumption device, and the visual indication tracks a location of the media consumption device in the second field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Logan, Alexander W. Liston, William L. Thomas, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Margret B. Schmidt, Mathew C. Burns, Ajay Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11212568
    Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry detects a plurality of instances in which the number of requests to simultaneously stream media from a subscription service to different devices exceeds a number of streams available to the user from the subscription service. The control circuitry generates a plurality of timestamps corresponding to the plurality of instances, and compares each timestamp to a range of timestamps that corresponds to a subscription period for the subscription service in order to determine a number of instances that occurred during the subscription period. The control circuitry compares the number of instances that occurred during the subscription period to a threshold number for the subscription period. Control circuitry transmits a message, from the server to one of the different devices, if the threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Walter R. Klappert
  • Publication number: 20210385546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting custom navigation options are described herein. In some embodiments, the media guidance application displays a first portion of a media asset, and receives a user selection of an entity depicted within the portion. The media guidance application identifies a playlist of media asset portions associated with the entity, and generates for display a transport bar associated with the entity comprising an indicator identifying the entity and only one or more regions associated with the playlist of media asset portions. The media guidance application then receives a second user selection, and generates for display a second portion of the media asset associated with the entity in response. In some embodiments, the media guidance application identifies the playlist by searching a custom presentation database for entries associated with the entity, and retrieves the playlist from the identified entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Margret B. Schmidt, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Alexander W. Liston, Jonathan A. Logan, Mathew C. Burns, Gabriel C. Dalbec
  • Patent number: 11159500
    Abstract: In some aspects, control circuitry receives, at a content provider server that is associated with a first subscription service, a first authentication key from a content aggregator server that is associated with a second subscription service, prior to the user subscribing to the first subscription service. The control circuitry generates and stores, at the content provider server, the first user account after comparing the first authentication key to acceptable authentication. In response to storing the first user account, the control circuitry receives a request from the content aggregator server to subscribe the user to the first subscription service, wherein the request includes a second authentication key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 11153323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing access to media content by connecting, to a public device, a private device that has installed a mirror-capable application associated with the media content. A media guidance application may receive a communication from a private device, with a private interface application and a public interface application, wherein the communication is a request to access content using the public device. In response, the media guidance application may request, at the public device, the public interface application from the private device. The private device may thus transmit the public interface application with user authorization information to the public device. The private interface application may be configured to mirror the graphical user interface of the public interface application. Accordingly, the user may be able to access content via the public device and mirror the content on the private device, when the private device is within a predetermined proximity to the public device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11153324
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing access to media content by connecting, to a public device, a private device that does not have an installed application associated with the media content. A media guidance application may receive a communication from a private device requesting to access content using the public device. In response, the media guidance application may retrieve, at the public device, a public interface application and private interface application from a content provider of the content. The private interface application, which may be configured to control a graphical user interface of the public interface application, may then be transmitted to the private device. Accordingly, the user may be able to access content via the public device when the private device is within a predetermined proximity to the public device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11146857
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing streamlined access to media assets of interest to a user. The method includes determining that a supplemental viewing device, through which a user views a field of view, is directed at a first field of view. The method further involves detecting that the supplemental viewing device is now directed at a second field of view, and determining that a media consumption device is within the second field of view. A first media asset of interest to the user that is available for consumption via the media consumption device is identified, and the supplemental viewing device generates a visual indication in the second field of view. The visual indication indicates that the first media asset is available for consumption via the media consumption device, and the visual indication tracks a location of the media consumption device in the second field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Logan, Alexander W. Liston, William L. Thomas, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Margret B. Schmidt, Mathew C. Burns, Ajay Kumar Gupta
  • Publication number: 20210314671
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system includes receiving a request to display a content and employing an antenna system to receive content data that is representative of the content. The antenna system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna. The system further utilizing at least three arrangements to collect the content, wherein a first arrangement includes receiving the content data broadcasted over the air to extract the content from the content data, a second arrangement includes establishing a wireless communication connection with a network node device operated by a first telecommunication service provider to collect the content data from a server, and a third arrangement includes connecting to a hot-spot having a connection to a second network node device operated by a second telecommunication service provider to collect the content data from the server. The system further transfers the content to the display component, which is collected utilizing the three arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: APPLIED DIGITAL RESEARCH CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Francis SHAMBRO, JR., Fred Richard NIEDRICH, William L. THOMAS, Milan PATEL
  • Patent number: 11128924
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting custom navigation options are described herein. In some embodiments, the media guidance application displays a first portion of a media asset, and receives a user selection of an entity depicted within the portion. The media guidance application identifies a playlist of media asset portions associated with the entity, and generates for display a transport bar associated with the entity comprising an indicator identifying the entity and only one or more regions associated with the playlist of media asset portions. The media guidance application then receives a second user selection, and generates for display a second portion of the media asset associated with the entity in response. In some embodiments, the media guidance application identifies the playlist by searching a custom presentation database for entries associated with the entity, and retrieves the playlist from the identified entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Margret B. Schmidt, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Alexander W. Liston, Jonathan A. Logan, Mathew C. Burns, Gabriel C. Dalbec
  • Publication number: 20210279268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling quick access to media options are provided. A display of a plurality of icons is generated, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of applications. A user input is detected that identifies a first of the plurality of icons associated with a first of the plurality of applications. In response to determining that the user input corresponds to a quick access operation, first and second media asset identifiers and corresponding media options are retrieved from each of second and third applications. A menu that includes the retrieved first and second media asset identifiers is generated for display with the plurality of icons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: William L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210274244
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing supplemental content to a group of users when the group of users is disinterested in content from a live content stream. When users are disinterested in a segment of the live content, the users will be provided with supplemental content to consume during the not interesting portion of the live content while other users that are viewing the live content will continue to receive the live content stream. After the segment of the live content is completed, the group of users will resume consumption of the live content stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Dylan Matthew Wondra, Jean Michelle Somlo, Michaela Schlocker Logan, Mario Miguel Sanchez, William L. Thomas