Patents by Inventor Wilson Harron

Wilson Harron 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: 20210037283
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template corresponding to a screen portion. Based on the video input stream matching the template, a video output stream is generated and caused to be presented on a display. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is replacing video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, menus generated by the set-top box may be detected and the replacement video altered by the smart TV to include the menus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Marcus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Sherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20210029417
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of a portion of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that the received media content has a predefined characteristic; (iv) responsive to determining that the received media content has the predefined characteristic, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the portion of the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified portion of media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou
  • Patent number: 10893320
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10866988
    Abstract: Methods and systems to identify video content based on video fingerprint matching are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems generate a query fingerprint of a frame of video content captured at a client device, query a database of reference fingerprints, determine the query fingerprint of the frame of captured video content matches a reference fingerprint, and identify the video content based on the match of fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilson Harron
  • Patent number: 10869086
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10841665
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of a portion of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that the received media content has a predefined characteristic; (iv) responsive to determining that the received media content has the predefined characteristic, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the portion of the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified portion of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US) LLP
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou
  • Patent number: 10785530
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template corresponding to a screen portion. Based on the video input stream matching the template, a video output stream is generated and caused to be presented on a display. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is replacing video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, menus generated by the set-top box may be detected and the replacement video altered by the smart TV to include the menus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20200104625
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes a processor (1) applying a feature map network to an image to create a feature map comprising a grid of vectors characterizing at least one feature in the image and (2) applying a probability map network to the feature map to create a probability map assigning a probability to the at least one feature in the image, where the assigned probability corresponds to a likelihood that the at least one feature is an overlay. The method further includes the processor determining that the probability exceeds a threshold, and responsive to the processor determining that the probability exceeds the threshold, performing a processing action associated with the at least one feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Irene Zhu
  • Publication number: 20200089934
    Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying unknown video content are described. An example method may include receiving a first fingerprint and a second fingerprint. The first fingerprint may be a color-based fingerprint derived from colors in a portion of the unknown video content, and the second fingerprint may be at least partially based on a feature other than the colors of the unknown video content. A reference database of reference fingerprints may then be queried using one of the first fingerprint or the second fingerprint to obtain a candidate group of fingerprints. The candidate group of fingerprints may then be queried using the other of the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to identify at least one query fingerprint. The unknown video content may then be identified using the at least one query fingerprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Publication number: 20200053422
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20200045380
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of a portion of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that the received media content has a predefined characteristic; (iv) responsive to determining that the received media content has the predefined characteristic, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the portion of the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified portion of media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou
  • Patent number: 10503998
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes a processor (1) applying a feature map network to an image to create a feature map comprising a grid of vectors characterizing at least one feature in the image and (2) applying a probability map network to the feature map to create a probability map assigning a probability to the at least one feature in the image, where the assigned probability corresponds to a likelihood that the at least one feature is an overlay. The method further includes the processor determining that the probability exceeds a threshold, and responsive to the processor determining that the probability exceeds the threshold, performing a processing action associated with the at least one feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Irene Zhu
  • Patent number: 10503956
    Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying unknown video content are described. An example method may include receiving a first fingerprint and a second fingerprint. The first fingerprint may be a color-based fingerprint derived from colors in a portion of the unknown video content, and the second fingerprint may be at least partially based on a feature other than the colors of the unknown video content. A reference database of reference fingerprints may then be queried using one of the first fingerprint or the second fingerprint to obtain a candidate group of fingerprints. The candiate group of fingerprints may then be pried using the other of the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to identify at least one query fingerprint. The unknown video content may then be identified using the at least one query fingerprint. For example, the second fingerprint may be a luminance-based fingerprint derived from luminance in the unknown video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Patent number: 10484758
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, by a computing system, media content; (ii) generating, by the computing system, a fingerprint of a portion of the received media content; (iii) determining, by the computing system, that the received media content has a predefined characteristic; (iv) responsive to determining that the received media content has the predefined characteristic, transmitting, by the computing system, the generated fingerprint to a content identification server to identify the portion of the received media content; and (v) performing an action based on the identified portion of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou
  • Patent number: 10412447
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a semi-transparent overlay. Based on the video input stream matching the template, a video output stream is generated and caused to be presented on a display. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is replacing video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, semi-transparent menus generated by the set-top box may be detected and the replacement video altered by the smart TV to include the menus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20190132641
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20190075362
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for displaying actionable elements over playing content, such as video content, are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems identify video content currently playing within a display environment provided by a playback device, and display an actionable element within the display environment provided by the playback device that is based on the identified video content and includes one or more user-selectable options to perform an action associated with the identified video content. Further, in some example embodiments, the methods and systems may perform an action (e.g., present supplemental content and/or information) in response to a selection of one or more of the user-selectable options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20190007742
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for displaying actionable elements over playing content, such as video content, are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems identify video content currently playing within a display environment provided by a playback device, and display an actionable element within the display environment provided by the playback device that is based on the identified video content and includes one or more user-selectable options to perform an action associated with the identified video content. Further, in some example embodiments, the methods and systems may perform an action (e.g., present supplemental content and/or information) in response to a selection of one or more of the user-selectable options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20190007741
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for displaying actionable elements over playing content, such as video content, are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems identify video content currently playing within a display environment provided by a playback device, and display an actionable element within the display environment provided by the playback device that is based on the identified video content and includes one or more user-selectable options to perform an action associated with the identified video content. Further, in some example embodiments, the methods and systems may perform an action (e.g., present supplemental content and/or information) in response to a selection of one or more of the user-selectable options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Wilson Harron
  • Patent number: 10142680
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee