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).

  • Patent number: 9465995
    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. For example, the second fingerprint may be a luminance-based fingerprint derived from luminance in the unknown video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Publication number: 20160267180
    Abstract: A query fingerprint of a set of frames of video content captured at a client device may be generated. Multiple patches of the set of frames of video content may be selected and a value calculated for each of the selected multiple patches. The value for each patch may be indicated as a single bit along with an additional 1-bit value to indicate whether the patch value is weak. A database of known reference fingerprints may be queried using the generated query fingerprint. Matches between the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprints may be identified. Weak bits may be given reduced weight in identifying the match of fingerprints. Based on the matches, an identifier for the video content may be returned to the client device. The client device may use the received identifier to access the supplemental content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Matthew James Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 9323840
    Abstract: A query fingerprint of a set of frames of video content captured at a client device may be generated. Multiple patches of the set of frames of video content may be selected and a value calculated for each of the selected multiple patches. The value for each patch may be indicated as a single bit along with an additional 1-bit value to indicate whether the patch value is weak. A database of known reference fingerprints may be queried using the generated query fingerprint. Matches between the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprints may be identified. Weak bits may be given reduced weight in identifying the match of fingerprints. Based on the matches, an identifier for the video content may be returned to the client device. The client device may use the received identifier to access the supplemental content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Matthew James Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20150356178
    Abstract: Methods and systems for searching for and retrieving video content via fingerprint matching are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access an index of reference fingerprints, such as quantized values associated with multiple values calculated from patches of a frame, that are associated with sequential frames of known video content. The methods and systems may receive a search query that includes a group of query fingerprints associated with sequential frames of video content presented at a client device, access the index, compare the group of query fingerprints to reference fingerprints of the index, determine that the group of query fingerprints match the reference fingerprints of the index, and identify the video content presented at the client device based on the determined match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Steven D. Scherf, Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20150350725
    Abstract: Techniques of detecting text in video are disclosed. In some embodiments, a portion of video content can be identified as having text. Text within the identified portion of the video content can be identified. A category for the identified text can be determined. In some embodiments, a determination is made as to whether the video content satisfies at least one predetermined condition, and the portion of video content is identified as having text in response to a determination that the video content satisfies the predetermined condition(s). In some embodiments, the predetermined condition(s) comprises at least one of a minimum level of clarity, a minimum level of contrast, and a minimum level of content stability across multiple frames. In some embodiments, additional information corresponding to the video content is determined based on the identified text and the determined category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Irene Zhu, Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Patent number: 9146990
    Abstract: Methods and systems for searching for and retrieving video content via fingerprint matching are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access an index of reference fingerprints, such as quantized values associated with multiple values calculated from patches of a frame, that are associated with sequential frames of known video content. The methods and systems may receive a search query that includes a group of query fingerprints associated with sequential frames of video content presented at a client device, access the index, compare the group of query fingerprints to reference fingerprints of the index, determine that the group of query fingerprints match the reference fingerprints of the index, and identify the video content presented at the client device based on the determined match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Scherf, Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20150195621
    Abstract: Techniques of providing an interactive programming guide with a personalized lineup are disclosed. In some embodiments, a profile is accessed, and a personalized lineup is determined based on the profile. The personalized lineup may comprise a corresponding media content identification assigned to each one of a plurality of sequential time slots, where each media content identification identifies media content for the corresponding time slot. A first interactive programming guide may be caused to be displayed on a first media content device associated with the profile, where the first interactive programming guide comprises the personalized lineup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Oscar Celma Herrada, Irene Zhu, Markus K. Cremer
  • Patent number: 9036083
    Abstract: Techniques of detecting text in video are disclosed. In some embodiments, a portion of video content can be identified as having text. Text within the identified portion of the video content can be identified. A category for the identified text can be determined. In some embodiments, a determination is made as to whether the video content satisfies at least one predetermined condition, and the portion of video content is identified as having text in response to a determination that the video content satisfies the predetermined condition(s). In some embodiments, the predetermined condition(s) comprises at least one of a minimum level of clarity, a minimum level of contrast, and a minimum level of content stability across multiple frames. In some embodiments, additional information corresponding to the video content is determined based on the identified text and the determined category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Irene Zhu, Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Publication number: 20150110340
    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. For example, the second fingerprint may be a luminance-based fingerprint derived from luminance in the unknown video content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Markus K. Cremer
  • Publication number: 20150074703
    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 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20140236988
    Abstract: A query fingerprint of a set of frames of video content captured at a client device may be generated. Multiple patches of the set of frames of video content may be selected and a value calculated for each of the selected multiple patches. The value for each patch may be indicated as a single bit along with an additional 1-bit value to indicate whether the patch value is weak. A database of known reference fingerprints may be queried using the generated query fingerprint. Matches between the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprints may be identified. Weak bits may be given reduced weight in identifying the match of fingerprints. Based on the matches, an identifier for the video content may be returned to the client device. The client device may use the received identifier to access the supplemental content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Harron, Matthew James Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20140195548
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Wilson Harron
  • Publication number: 20140193027
    Abstract: Methods and systems for searching for and retrieving video content via fingerprint matching are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access an index of reference fingerprints, such as quantized values associated with multiple values calculated from patches of a frame, that are associated with sequential frames of known video content. The methods and systems may receive a search query that includes a group of query fingerprints associated with sequential frames of video content presented at a client device, access the index, compare the group of query fingerprints to reference fingerprints of the index, determine that the group of query fingerprints match the reference fingerprints of the index, and identify the video content presented at the client device based on the determined match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Steven D. Scherf, Wilson Harron