Commercial Or Program Airing Verification System Patents (Class 725/22)
  • Patent number: 11671644
    Abstract: A programmable and universal video platform enabling digital ads from ad sales teams, online digital exchanges, demand side platforms or other digital video advertising aggregators, to be inserted into linear television cable programming feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Viamedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Lykes, Wendell Decker, James T O'Neill, Adam Lynch, Paul Cavins
  • Patent number: 11652859
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for identifying streaming sessions are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an audience measurer to determine an identifier for a commercial presented at a media presentation device, and to determine a time at which the commercial was presented. The example apparatus also includes a log analyzer to compare the identifier and the time to a streaming session log from a streaming service provider (SSP) to identify a streaming session in which the commercial associated with the identifier was presented at the time. The example apparatus also includes a panelist matcher to associate, based on the comparison, a panelist identifier with a streaming session identifier corresponding to the streaming session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Topchy, Jeremey M. Davis, Khaldun Karazoun
  • Patent number: 11556976
    Abstract: A server apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an item to be purchased, based on a temporal change in captured images of an item display position at a mobile shop and, upon acquiring authentication information for a purchaser from a first terminal apparatus, perform a charging process in respect of the purchaser for a price of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kobayashi, Ayana Takeshita, Naoki Yamamuro, Takuya Maekawa, Yugo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11514472
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining a first binary number assigned to a content-presentation device, with digits of the first binary number corresponding to respective segments of content-presentation devices; (ii) determining a second binary number assigned to an advertising campaign, with digits of the second binary number corresponding to the respective segments of content-presentative devices; (iii) comparing the first binary number and the second binary number; (iv) based on a result of the comparing, determining that the advertising campaign is valid for the content-presentation device; and (v) based on the determining that the advertising campaign is valid, causing supplemental content associated with the advertising campaign to be transmitted to the content-presentation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 11470370
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for improving user experience when servicing on-demand requests by a consumer for a hyper-specific media content in a network environment. The hyper-specific media content may include specified audio, video, etc. that relates to hyper-specific criteria (e.g., specific subject, location, and time condition). In an embodiment, the hyper-specific criteria in a consumer request are compared with stored hyper-specific criteria in a database. A prediction model is then trained on feature parameters of matching stored hyper-specific criteria to generate a trending level classification that can be associated with the hyper-specific criteria in the consumer request. The trending level classification indicates level of interest of third parties and may be used as a basis for content management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: M35Creations, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Ernest
  • Patent number: 11375274
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that increase a match rate for over-the-top media. An example apparatus includes an audience measurement interface to receive a first signature of media monitored by a panelist meter and a media element analyzer to compare the first signature to a reference signature stored in a reference database, in response to the first signature not matching the reference signature, compare the first signature to a preliminary signature stored in a preliminary database, determine a number of hits associated with a media element based on the second comparison, and when the number of hits meets a threshold, generate a second signature of the media element, the second signature having a greater duration than the preliminary signature, wherein the second signature is an expanded version of the preliminary signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 11368766
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to methods, devices, systems and computer program products that facilitate access to metadata associated with a content. In one example, a method is described that includes receiving a multimedia content at a receiver device, extracting a watermark message from a first segment of the multimedia content, using at least a portion of the first watermark message to obtain additional information regarding the first segment of the multimedia content that includes the first watermark message, and associating and storing one or more values of the first watermark message and the additional information. The method further includes repeating the above operations to extract additional watermark messages from additional segments of the content and to form a table or array of items that can be accessed by specifying the one or more values of the first watermark message or one or more values of the additional watermark messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Verance Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Zhao, Joseph M. Winograd
  • Patent number: 11256762
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for aggregating data from disparate sources to determine an optimal package of data items are disclosed. For example, the system described herein can obtain data items from various sources, aggregate and/or organize the data items into an optimal package based on various criteria, and present, via an interactive user interface, the optimal package. Furthermore, the interactive user interface may enable a user to adjust the criteria used to aggregate and/or organize the data items. The system may interactively re-aggregate and re-organize the data items using the adjusted criteria as the user interacts with the package via the user interface. The system and user interface may thus enable the user to optimize the packages of data items based on multiple factors quickly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangnong Wang, Yifei Huang, Michael Yang, Francis Chen, Andy Chen, Andre Frederico Cavalheiro Menck, Christopher Yu, Grace Garde, Mark Cinali, James Winchester, Peter Wang, Nitish Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11238487
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining a first binary number assigned to a content-presentation device, with digits of the first binary number corresponding to respective segments of content-presentation devices; (ii) determining a second binary number assigned to an advertising campaign, with digits of the second binary number corresponding to the respective segments of content-presentative devices; (iii) comparing the first binary number and the second binary number; (iv) based on a result of the comparing, determining that the advertising campaign is valid for the content-presentation device; and (v) based on the determining that the advertising campaign is valid, causing supplemental content associated with the advertising campaign to be transmitted to the content-presentation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 11216836
    Abstract: A computer system performs display control to display a reward advertisement at a given screen switching timing, a screen switching timing due to start or end of a game progress unit, or a timing at which a game progression satisfies a given change condition. The computer system gives a reward for watching the advertisement to a player. The reward is set based on user data and/or play data of the player related to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Onda, Daisuke Omori, Makoto Kikuchi, Yuki Matsuba, Masayuki Oda, Tatsuya Shioiri
  • Patent number: 11183147
    Abstract: Various aspects of a video processing device and method for display control includes detection, from a sequence of image frames received from a video source, a transition from one or more frames associated with a first metadata to one or more other frames associated with a second metadata. First visual properties of the one or more frames are determined based on the first metadata. Second visual properties of the one or more other frames are determined based on the second metadata. The determined second visual properties of the one or more other frames are controlled in accordance with the determined first visual properties of the one or more frames to enable a smooth transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter Shintani
  • Patent number: 11030174
    Abstract: A system receives a set of log data generated from one or more computing services. The system identifies a first timestamp and a second timestamp associated with a set of log data. The system generates an index by encoding the quantized first and second timestamps and identifies a prefix length between the first and second timestamps. The prefix length is then used as a basis to interweave the encoded bits associated with the first and second timestamps to generate an index value. The index value may then be used as a key in connection with the index to locate log data to satisfy a query request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Hagerup
  • Patent number: 11016824
    Abstract: A stream of events is received, where individual events within the stream of events are received out-of-order. The events from the stream of events are ordered. Whether a predetermined collection of events have occurred within a predetermined period of time is determined. Responsive to determining that the predetermined collection of events have occurred within the predetermined period of time, an action associated with the predetermined sequence of events is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Pure Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell Wells, Kapil Kanwar, Gregory Mcnutt, Farhan Abrol
  • Patent number: 10943265
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes obtaining media content, analyzing the media content for an advertisement insertion space, receiving a request for the media content from equipment of a user, obtaining a profile for the user, determining a location of the user, determining a time of a delivery of the media content, determining an advertising insertion for the advertising insertion space based on the profile of the user, the location of the user, and the time of the delivery of the media content, and inserting the advertising insertion into the media content in place of the advertisement insertion space to generate modified media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen Francis Triano
  • Patent number: 10931390
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method to be performed by a vehicle-based media system includes (a) receiving audio content; (b) causing one or more speakers to output the received audio content; (c) using a microphone of the vehicle-based media system to capture the output audio content; (d) identifying reference audio content that has at least a threshold extent of similarity with the captured audio content; (e) identifying visual content based at least on the identified reference audio content; and (f) outputting, via a user interface of the vehicle-based media system, the identified visual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GRACENOTE, INC.
    Inventor: Nisarg A. Modi
  • Patent number: 10931812
    Abstract: A system and method for transmitting and receiving communications via an application running on a communication device is described. The system equips a user with tools configured to facilitate the editing of transmitted messages, the transmission of messages at a user-selected time, messages configured to automatically expire at a user-specified time after the recipient has opened the messages, and messages and social media posts screened for black-listed alert words. Blip messages are designed to leave no trace of their transmission or reception, and preferably expire after the sender-defined view time has passed. The system is envisioned for use across multiple platforms including social media and internet messaging, and is not limited to the mobile messaging market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Brett Seidman
  • Patent number: 10847168
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for research data gathering are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein is to detect whether the apparatus is powered by an internal power source or an external power source. The example apparatus is also to, in response to detecting the apparatus is powered by the internal power source, perform first processing on a received audio signal to determine audio data to store in storage of the apparatus. The example apparatus is further to, in response to detecting the apparatus is powered by the external power source, perform second processing on the stored audio data to recover the code, the second processing different from the first processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack C. Crystal
  • Patent number: 10832291
    Abstract: A selection of a broadcast media ad network and a set of parameters including one or both of a goal and a constraint associated with an advertising campaign is received. Based at least in part on said selection and said set of parameters an advertising proposal, the advertising proposal is determined including an identification of a set of broadcasters associated with the selected broadcast media ad network and for each a corresponding advertising plan portion of the advertising proposal. Information representing the advertising proposal is caused to be displayed at a node from which said selection and set of parameters were received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Jelli, Inc.
    Inventors: Sreeharsha Kamireddy, Jateen P. Parekh, Torsten Schulz, Michael S. Dougherty, Stephen King Dougherty, Stephanie Shieh
  • Patent number: 10805668
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide presentation control of media content. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a broadcasted media, content stream; presents on a display a first presentation area, wherein the first presentation area presents a video portion of the media content; receives a user command that initiates a video presentation trick function; and presents in response to the user command a second presentation area, wherein the second presentation area presents the video portion of the media content in accordance with the video presentation trick function, and wherein the first presentation area and the second presentation area are concurrently presented on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gregory Greene
  • Patent number: 10785546
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining a characteristic of a target audience for a viewing of a visual media, extracting a frame of the visual media from an electronic signal, identifying an object that is visible in the frame of the visual media, and digitally inserting an item of advertising content into the frame of the visual media, in a region of the object, wherein a selection of the item of advertising content has been optimized for at least the characteristic of the audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Lynar, Stefan von Cavallar, John Wagner
  • Patent number: 10741190
    Abstract: Disclosed example apparatus select a first frequency from a set of frequencies based on a first symbol in a code, and select a first block size based on the first symbol and the code, a combination of the first block size and the first frequency to represent the first symbol. Disclosed example apparatus also synthesize a code frequency according to the first block size and the first frequency. Disclosed example apparatus further embed the code frequency in a first block of input audio samples of the audio having the first block size to form a block of encoded audio samples encoded with the first symbol, the code frequency and the first block of input audio samples to overlap in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Venugopal Srinivasan, Alexander Topchy
  • Patent number: 10735824
    Abstract: A server may receive metadata associated with specific content in a transport signal stream from a content information service. The metadata may identify a point in time of the transport signal stream. The server may instruct an encoder to insert a marker into the transport signal stream corresponding to the point in time of the transport signal stream. The marker may indicate control of a trick mode to be enforced by a delivery platform subsequent to the point in time of the transport signal stream. The server may record the marker in a data store associated with the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC
    Inventor: John Raymond Mick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10726269
    Abstract: A system may receive a first video stream from a first source over a network; receive a second video stream from a second source over the network; store a first portion of the first video stream in a first first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer; store a second portion of the second video stream in a second FIFO buffer; compare the first portion of the first video stream to the second portion of the second video stream; detect an advertisement and features in the first video stream based on the comparing; and analyze the advertisement to identify one or more types of anomalies in the advertisement based on the detected features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S Perakslis, Earl W Vanderhoff, David E Dubois
  • Patent number: 10699554
    Abstract: An interactive media device comprises a remote control interface that receives a wireless signal from a corresponding remote control with an emergency button. A controller decodes the wireless signal to determine if the user has pressed a button of the remote control to operate an associated television or if the user has pressed the emergency button on the remote control. If the user has pressed a button of the remote control to operate the associated television, then a television interface that issues an instruction based on the wireless signal to the associated television. However, if the user has pressed the emergency button, a medical emergency interface that issues an alert to a local or remote response unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ESCO Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jerry Grove
  • Patent number: 10607355
    Abstract: A method and system for determining at least a size dimension of objects shown in multimedia content items are presented. The method includes receiving an input multimedia content item; identifying objects shown in the multimedia content item; generating at least a first signature for at least a first object of the plurality of objects and at least a second signature for at least a second object; identifying at least one concept that matches the at least a first object; determining an actual size of the first object respective of the match to the at least one concept; determining a size scale between the first object and the second object using the at least a first signature and the at least a second signature; and determining the at least size dimension of the second object respective of the size scale and the actual size of the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Cortica, Ltd.
    Inventors: Igal Raichelgauz, Karina Odinaev, Yehoshua Y. Zeevi
  • Patent number: 10542326
    Abstract: A method for targeted content placement using overlays includes receiving media content from a content feed and displaying the media content from the content feed at a display of the media device. As the display of the media device displays the media content, the method also includes fingerprinting at least one frame of the media content to obtain a fingerprint and identifying an in-frame advertisement based on the obtained fingerprint. The in-frame advertisement corresponds to an advertisement within a portion of the at least one frame. The method further includes determining a target overlay location within the at least one frame with the in-frame advertisement, the target overlay location corresponding to a size of the in-frame advertisement, and superimposing overlay content at the target overlay location when the display of the media device displays the at least one frame with the in-frame advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 10436832
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a cable into which a reference signal s of time support limited to a duration T is injected comprises the following steps: calculating the intercorrelation, in a sliding window of duration D at least equal to 2T, between the injected reference signal s and a measurement r of the reflection of the reference signal s in the cable, normalizing the calculated intercorrelation by a factor dependent on the integration of the reflection measurement r over the same sliding window of duration D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Soumaya Sallem, Nicolas Ravot
  • Patent number: 10410229
    Abstract: In an approach for monitoring media consumption, a processor receives data from a media collection device, wherein the data comprises at least information generated by at least one media broadcasting device of one or more media broadcasts. A processor compares the data to previously stored signatures, wherein the previously stored signatures are each associated with a respective media broadcast. A processor identifies the one or more media broadcasts using the data and the previously stored signatures. A processor compiles the identified one or more media broadcasts with a set of previously stored media broadcasts associated with the media collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Stefan Harrer, Laurence J. Plant
  • Patent number: 10356488
    Abstract: An output control system and the like that can control output of a content having a quality the user desires is provided. A client transmits a video content output request to a server. Receiving the output request from the client, the server transmits an advertising content to the client. The client transmits output information presenting the viewing time of the advertising content to the server. The server outputs to the client a video content having a quality corresponding to the viewing time presented by the acquired output information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanda, Akihito Iwadate, Shigekatsu Moriya, Yuji Abe
  • Patent number: 10349124
    Abstract: A method of presenting interactive content at a client device is disclosed. The client device records, in real-time, an audio stream of a piece of multimedia content broadcast by a content display device and sends an audio fingerprint of the piece of the multimedia content to a server. The server then determines, based on the audio fingerprint, an identifier of the piece of multimedia content, retrieves, based on the identifier of the piece of multimedia content, interactive content associated with the piece of multimedia content, and returns the interactive content associated with the piece of multimedia content to the client device. After receiving, from the server, the interactive content associated with the piece of multimedia content, the client device renders the interactive content to the user of the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hailong Liu, Dadong Xie, Jie Hou, Bo Chen
  • Patent number: 10235596
    Abstract: Provided are a system for transferring data using an image code, a method of outputting an image code on a display device, and a method of decoding an image code. The system includes a code generation device configured to generate an image code including a series of brightness values corresponding to a binary code representing source data or a part of the binary code, a display device configured to output at least one color having the series of brightness values in a code area on a display panel in order of the series of brightness values, and a code decoding device configured to acquire the series of brightness values of the at least one color output in the code area through a sensor and to decode the image code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Kwang-Seok Hong, Kyung-Won Chang
  • Patent number: 10237618
    Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae-suh Park
  • Patent number: 10028013
    Abstract: A method of interacting with an audience of multimedia content is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from a client device, data associated with a piece of multimedia content from a group of pieces of multimedia content that is presented to a user of the client device. The data is obtained at the client device in response to an instruction provided to the client device by the user. The method includes determining, based on the data, an identifier of the piece of multimedia content from a set of identifiers, each of which identifies a piece of multimedia content from the group of pieces of multimedia content. The method includes retrieving, based on the identifier of the piece of multimedia content, interactive content associated with the piece of multimedia content. The method includes sending the interactive content to the client device such that the client device presents the interactive content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hailong Liu, Dadong Xie, Jie Hou, Bo Chen
  • Patent number: 9924214
    Abstract: An avail comparator and method validates scheduled avail tones. The method includes receiving an automation playlist indicating at least one scheduled avail tone configured to be included in a broadcast. The method includes receiving a feed corresponding to the broadcast. The method includes receiving a signaling for each of the at least one scheduled avail tone based upon the automation playlist. The method includes determining whether the at least one scheduled avail tone was triggered in the broadcast based upon the corresponding signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Christopher Fulton Hundersmarck, Scott Charles Findling, Michael J. McMackin
  • Patent number: 9883252
    Abstract: A method implementable on a computing device for generating interstitial material for video content includes generating at least one instantiated script by inserting metadata related to the video content into at least one script template, scoring the instantiated scripts according to a predefined set of weights associated with a profile for a viewing audience to produce scored scripts, and selecting from said scored scripts according to at least said scoring for rendering as said interstitial material. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ashton Hall, Stephen Tallamy, Avraham Poupko
  • Patent number: 9858339
    Abstract: An information providing system includes a sound emission device for emitting, as sound wave, identification information modulated into a sound signal, an identification information resolution server including a mapping table in which the identification information, valid time information and the address information of a content are stored to be associated, and a mobile terminal device for transmitting the identification information demodulated from a picked-up sound wave to the identification information resolution server thereby obtaining address information and accessing the content using the obtained address information. When received the identification information from the mobile terminal device, the identification information resolution server returns the address information of a corresponding content to the mobile terminal device when the time information is within a valid time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Akiyama, Hiroyuki Iwase, Takeshi Sakai, Takuro Sone
  • Patent number: 9818254
    Abstract: In various embodiments, promotions are featured on mobile gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Kevin Burman, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Antonio Papageorgiou, Joseph M. Asher
  • Patent number: 9788034
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Hank J. Hundemer
  • Patent number: 9681102
    Abstract: A system and method includes a first automation system generating a first run log a first on air status and a second automation system generating a second run log having a second on-air status. A billing module receives a consolidated run log corresponding to the first on-air status from the first run log and the second on-air status from the second run log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitch C. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9524636
    Abstract: A universal remote controller includes a card and a housing. The card includes an information tag. The housing includes a touch panel, a slot, a reader, a memory, a processor, and a signal transmitter. The memory is used for storing a plurality of databases. When the card is inserted to the slot, the reader in the housing induces the driving signal corresponding to the information tag of the card. The processor enables a corresponding database from the memory according to the driving signal and further provides a plurality of remote control functions on the transparent touch panel corresponding to positions of a plurality of key images according to the enabled database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: LEADOT INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventor: Justin Wang
  • Patent number: 9479809
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Hank J. Hundemer
  • Patent number: 9419947
    Abstract: A content distribution system is disclosed that supports verification of transmission. In some embodiments, a remote probe device captures content and sends the content to a decrypting device so that decryption may be performed. The decrypting device may archive the content and may subsequently send the content to the probe device or to a playback device so that the content may be displayed. Consequently, the content distribution system can verify that specified content (e.g., an advertisement) was correctly distributed according to scheduled information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Maurice Garcia
  • Patent number: 9414129
    Abstract: A tuner device, such as a television set, set top box, game console, personal computer with a dongle or device, creates digital fingerprints indicative of information received over a channel. The digital fingerprints are uploaded to a server along with metadata indicative of the specific tuner device that obtain them. The server maintains a tuner database based on that information, and can automatically request new fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Vizio Inc
    Inventor: Matthew Blake McRae
  • Patent number: 9396608
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a computer-implemented online game provides dynamically variable rewards to incentivize player interaction with sponsored content presented within the game. The particular reward offered to incentivize player interaction with particular sponsored content (e.g., a particular advertisement) can be dynamically variable based on the attributes of the player, thus providing user-specific custom rewards for interaction with sponsored content. Properties of incentive rewards that may be dynamically variable can include a custom type of in-game asset or resource, and/or a custom amount of a particular in-game asset or resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Marc Burgin, Diwakar Gupta, Simon Asselin
  • Patent number: 9398350
    Abstract: An address is received for an online asset. A metadata associated with the online asset is gotten. The metadata is used to match the online asset to a corresponding offline media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CastTV Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Seng Eng Ong, Aleksandra R. Vikati, Brian T. Schroeder, Joel H. Wood, Min Kyung M. Chang
  • Patent number: 9386330
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining a time period remaining until a live production system changes states. An example method involves accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log; making a first determination that a log-entry A in the traffic log does not correspond to a live-production source; making a second determination that a log-entry B in the traffic log is the next log entry after the log-entry A to correspond to a live-production source; making a third determination that the log-entry B includes a start-time B; responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, proximate a current time that is on or after a start-time A corresponding to the log-entry A and that is before the start-time B, determining a time period as a difference between the current time and the start-time B; and providing the determined time-period to an output device for presentation proximate the current time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Hank J. Hundemer
  • Patent number: 9292859
    Abstract: A playlist and a digital advertisement are received. The digital advertisement is output to a screen on the basis of information in the playlist. A code is generated based on the information in the playlist and the generated code is output to the screen. The generated code is output to the screen by flashing the generated code on the screen at a predetermined flash frequency and for a predetermined flash time so that the generated code is visually imperceptible or barely detectable to a human viewer. A suitable equipped electronic device may detect the code and utilize information encoded in the code in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: American Megatrends, Inc.
    Inventor: Clas G. Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 9253512
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring audio-video (AV) streams transported over a network. The system may include an AV probe deployed between an AV tuner and AV destination customer premise equipment. The AV probe may receive an incoming AV stream. The AV probe may generate a thumbnail stream by capturing thumbnails of the incoming AV stream. The AV probe may transmit, substantially in real-time, the thumbnail stream to a monitoring engine and the incoming AV stream to the AV destination customer premise equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ineoquest Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc A. Todd
  • Patent number: 9236962
    Abstract: Television reporting records are accessed and processed to generate frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for creatives (e.g., television advertisements). The device frequencies indicating the number of times a creative was presented by use of a particular viewing device. The frequency specific reach values indicating the number of unique viewing devices that were used to present the creative a specified number of times. Estimating frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for a creative for a viewing population. The estimated frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for the viewing population are based on known viewing pattern data for multiple creative airings from a sample of the viewing population (e.g., a subset of the viewing population) and estimated viewing pattern data for the airings for the viewing population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Alastair Hawkins, Simon Rowe
  • Patent number: 9232241
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring audio-video (AV) streams transported over a network. The system may include an AV probe deployed between an AV tuner and AV destination customer premise equipment. The AV probe may receive an incoming AV stream. The AV probe may generate a thumbnail stream by capturing thumbnails of the incoming AV stream. The AV probe may transmit, substantially in real-time, the thumbnail stream to a monitoring engine and the incoming AV stream to the AV destination customer premise equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ineoquest Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc A. Todd