Specific To Individual User Or Household Patents (Class 725/34)
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Patent number: 9742822Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to sponsored story generation from an organic activity stream in a social networking site. A user wishing to promote an entry from an organic activity stream may, using a sponsor user interface, specify the types of stories to promote to a portion of the home page displayed to a member of a social network.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Philip Anastasios Zigoris, Nipun Mathur, Robert Kang-Xing Jin, Brian Thomas Boland
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Patent number: 9736516Abstract: A system and method for operating an ad extraction and reconciliation system for a broadcast system includes an extraction manager module that receives an advertisement schedule for an advertisement from an ad sales module. The system also includes a controller module that receives broadcast channel schedule data for broadcast channel signal from a broadcast channel system and generating an advertising content data request signal for advertising content data including an advertisement content identifier for the advertisement. The ad extraction manager module forms an advertisement insertion schedule having advertisement content identifier and an advertising insertion spot associated with the advertising content identifier. The controller communicates the advertisement insertion schedule to a broadcast scheduling system.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Dien V. Nguyen, Joseph T. Hayes, Richard F. Purpura, Jason Y. Shimizu, James E. Yokers, Dennis N. Tan
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Patent number: 9693030Abstract: Systems and methods for generating alerts and enhanced viewing experience features using on-screen data are disclosed. Textual data corresponding to on-screen text is determined from the visual content of video data. The textual data is associated with corresponding regions and frames of the video data in which the corresponding on-screen text was detected. Users can select regions in the frames of the visual content to monitor for a particular triggering item (e.g., a triggering word, name, or phrase). During play back of the video data, the textual data associated with the selected regions in the frames can be monitored for the triggering item. When the triggering item is detected in the textual data, an alert can be generated. Alternatively, the textual data for the selected region can be extracted to compile supplemental information that can be rendered over the playback of the video data or over other video data.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLCInventors: Stephen P. Emeott, Kevin L. Baum, Bhavan Gandhi, Faisal Ishtiaq, Isselmou Ould Dellahy
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Patent number: 9681186Abstract: Provided herein is a method, apparatus and computer program product for gathering and presenting emotional response to an event in the form of an emotional response timeline. In particular, the method may include generating a timeline of a collected emotional response of a user relative to an event, selecting, by a processor, a portion of the timeline of the emotional response that meets at least one predefined criterion, and generating an edited event based on the portion of the timeline of the emotional response that meets the at least one predetermined criterion. The emotional response may include one or more of a heart rate, a facial expression, a vocalization, or a facial flush. The at least one predetermined criterion may include an emotional response above a predefined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi, Antti Johannes Eronen, Juha Henrik Arrasvuori, Jukka Antero Holm
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Patent number: 9661050Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media related to segmenting media content playlist for dynamic insertion of non-entertainment content during a streaming session. A request for media content associated with a streaming session in a network may be received from one or more client devices. In response to the received request, a media content playlist may be identified. In response to the received request, a non-entertainment playlist may be identified, where the non-entertainment playlist comprises one or more references pointing to one or more non-entertainment content, the one or more references including at least a first reference pointing to a first non-entertainment content and a second reference pointing to a second non-entertainment content. the media content playlist may be segmented into one or more segments including at least a first segment and a second segment.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.Inventors: Raynald H. Killick, Muhammad Asif Raza
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Patent number: 9654735Abstract: An ad is placed in a movie, by analyzing inherent characteristics of the movie, analyzing viewed characteristics of the movie, analyzing viewer characteristics of a viewer of the movie, obtaining advertiser preferences for placement of the ad in the movie, determining costs of placing the ad in the movie based on the inherent characteristics of the movie, the viewed characteristics of the movie, the viewer characteristics and the advertiser preferences, and placing the ad in the movie in accordance with the inherent characteristics of the movie, the viewed characteristics of the movie, the viewer characteristics, the advertiser preferences and the determined costs.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Open Text SA ULCInventors: Thomas S. Gilley, Eric Hoffert, Rabih Nassar, Paul Soukup
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Patent number: 9654840Abstract: Digital content items may include additional content such as advertisements. Placement of the additional content may be based on a characteristic of the digital content item and/or a characteristic of a consumer of the digital content item. In one implementation, a level of interest is determined for multiple time points in a digital content item and an advertisement is located in the digital item based on the level of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Roy F. Price
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Patent number: 9648359Abstract: A method (600) for a system (200) for delivering a content offering (102) containing one or more advertisements (331) includes identifying one or more triggers (115,321,117,118) indicating that one or more advertisement avails (326,327,328) occur in the content offering. After advertisements are obtained, portions (332,333) of the advertisements are multiplexed with portions (334,335) of the content offering occurring between a trigger and a corresponding advertising avail. The portions of the advertisements are delivered to subscriber devices (206) such that all portions are delivered prior to the advertising avail occurring or completing at the subscriber device.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: David A. Romrell, Gordon B. Beacham, Thomas L. DuBreuil
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Patent number: 9635408Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: QUANTUM STREAM INC.Inventor: Tayo Akadiri
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Patent number: 9609260Abstract: In one embodiment, a portion of a video sequence is displayed on an interface. A video tag is also displayed in the portion of the video sequence. In one embodiment, the video tag is a placeholder tag that shows where the tag would be displayed in the portion of the video sequence. An input area is then displayed that allows input of tag information for the video tag. For example, the user may specify what kind of tag they would like and also any information that can be displayed for the tag. For example, the user may specify that they would like the tag to be a text tag that includes the logo of the company.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Charles J. Kulas
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Patent number: 9609079Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and application acceleration management (AAM) computing device that modifies an obtained master playlist file such that a first set of meta information is appended to a network address of a secondary playlist file. The secondary playlist file is obtained and modified such that the first and second sets of meta information are appended to a network address of a media file. Alternatively to modifying the playlist files, first and second cookies including the first set of meta information and the first and second sets of meta information, respectively, can be used. A cache score is generated for the media file based on the first and second sets of meta information included in a request for the media file. The media file is obtained, stored in a cache as associated with the cache score, and sent in response to the request.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc.Inventors: Liang Cheng, Eswar Balasubramanian, Shawn Hurley
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Patent number: 9584839Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of multimedia or other content within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched cable television network, which utilizes a Network optimization controller (NOC) that processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., the creation of one or more “microcasts” specifically targeting one or more users), and evaluate these options to determine one that optimizes network operation. The NOC performs these decisions by considering various parameters including network resource availability, type of CPE, subscriber's targeted advertisement profile, and business rules programmed by operator of the network.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Steven Riedl, Bryan Santangelo, Gabe Zimbelman
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Patent number: 9576473Abstract: A method, apparatus and system annotation of meta-data through a capture infrastructure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a client device includes applying an automatic content recognition algorithm to determine a content identifier of an audio-visual data. The client device then associates the content identifier with an advertisement data based on a semantic correlation between a meta-data of the advertisement provided by a content provider and/or the content identifier. A capture infrastructure annotates the audio-visual data with a brand name and/or a product name by comparing entries in the master database with a closed captioning data of the audio-visual data and/or through an application of an optical character recognition algorithm in the audio-visual data. The content identifier may involve a music identification, an object identification, a facial identification, and/or a voice identification.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: FREE STREAM MEDIA CORP.Inventors: Ashwin Navin, David Harrison, Josh Smallman
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Patent number: 9569419Abstract: The systems and/or processes described herein may establish a controlled and limited vocabulary that may serve as explicit associative relationships. The explicit associative relationships may define the nature of relationships between items and/or categories of items. In response to determining that a user has interacted with or selected an item via a website, an application, etc., associated with a service provider, explicit associative relationships associated with the selected item may be parsed in order to identify additional items related to the selected item. The additional related items may then be dynamically recommended to the user via the website, the application, etc., associated with the service provider.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Ronald Allen Rice
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Patent number: 9571441Abstract: A device set may interoperate to perform an action, such as providing a message to a user or storing photos taken by a user. Performing the action on all available devices may cause redundancy (e.g., presenting the same message to the user on each device), and depending on user selection (e.g., the user requesting to play music and specifically designating a device) may become onerous. A centralized, server-driven selection of the device to perform the action may be problematic if the server is inaccessible and/or inaccurate if not currently informed of the current state of each device. In accordance with the techniques presented herein, a requesting device broadcasts an action invitation to the device set. Each device provides a suitability report indicating its suitability to perform the action. The requesting device identifies one or more suitable devices, and sends an action request to identified devices to perform the action.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Inventors: Benny Schlesinger, Guy Kashtan, Saar Yahalom, Christina Summer Chen, Blaise Aguera y Arcas
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Patent number: 9559922Abstract: An information processing apparatus has login information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of pieces of login information with user IDs for identifying users related with terminal IDs for identifying terminals for use by the users; terminal ID registration means for registering the acquired login information by relating each of the user IDs with the plurality of terminal IDs; delivery information generation means for generating different pieces of delivery information to be delivered to each terminal that are identified by the plurality of terminal IDs for each of the user IDs; and delivery means for delivering the generated different pieces of delivery information to the each terminals.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Shinichi Honda, Yoshikatsu Kanemaru, Norio Nagatsuka, Shinichi Kariya, Kouichi Matsuda
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Patent number: 9560305Abstract: A method includes receiving search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The method includes performing a first search of media content information. The method includes in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, sending a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The method includes, at a time indicated by the search criteria, performing a second search of updated media content information. The method includes in response to the second search identifying a second occurrence of the particular media content, determining whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The method also includes sending a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refraining from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Haifeng Bi, Xiaolian Bi
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Patent number: 9542060Abstract: User interfaces for selecting content for presentation or other actions is described in this disclosure. Using a small number of input controls a user may quickly and easily navigate content available for presentation from one or more content providers. Additional information may be presented to the user to facilitate selection of the content. Users may select content using one or more of a graphical user interface, or voice input.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew S. Brenner, Jared T. Benson, Eric A. Breitbard, Michael Patrick Bauerly, Vincent G. Uttley, Panos Vassiliadis, Lowell W. Goss, Nathan Daniel Cox
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Patent number: 9530148Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for constructing a schedule well before the time of an asset delivery opportunity that associates a collection of one or more assets, potentially from multiple advertisers or asset providers, that are planned to play in each asset delivery opportunity. Specific rules for each device also determine which asset each will play, thereby ensuring that campaigns of total asset delivery and asset delivery pacing are approximately fulfilled. This scheduling can be accomplished using marketing data associated with each user device and can be prepared in a practicable period of time using reasonable processing resources.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: INVIDI Technologies CorporationInventors: Alden Flatt, Brett Kosinski, Daniel C. Wilson, David Ballantyne, Jeremy Koopmans
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Patent number: 9524469Abstract: An individual having a plurality of first features and a second characteristic is identified. A plurality of second features associated with a second characteristic is determined. For each first feature among the plurality of first features, a respective probability distribution indicating, for each respective second feature, a probability that a person having the respective second feature has the first feature, is determined, thereby generating a plurality of probability distributions. A probabilistic classifier is used to combine the plurality of probability distributions, thereby generating a merged probability distribution. A Monte Carlo method is used to generate a prediction set based on the merged probability distribution, the prediction set including a plurality of prediction values for the second characteristic of the individual, each respective prediction value being associated with one of the plurality of second features. The prediction set is stored in a memory.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Metrostar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Mathew, John William Seaman, Ali Reza Manouchehri, Jorge Luis Vasquez, Lee Evan Kohn
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Patent number: 9521437Abstract: A method of operating a digital video service set top box system is provided. The set top box system accommodates playback of locally stored recorded secondary digital video content. The method begins by initiating playback of a primary digital video program. Insertion points associated with the primary digital video program are detected; these insertion points indicate frame-accurate transition points in the primary digital video program. During playback of the primary digital video program, the recorded secondary digital video program is inserted at any appropriate insertion point in a frame-accurate manner. The termination of the secondary digital video program is likewise marked and triggers a return to the primary digital video program, at the original insertion point or any other desired insertion point which may exist in the primary digital video program.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Scott D. Sellers, Christopher S. del Sordo
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Patent number: 9516374Abstract: An application on a second-screen device can receive an advertisement stream and an interactive component. The application can display at least a partial display of the advertisement stream and the interactive component in a video display area on the second-screen device. The displayed advertisement stream can be associated with an advertisement stream being displayed by a primary display with the two advertisement streams being associated with the same content and substantially synchronized.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Neil Cormican, Ronnie Dan, Patricia Patitucci, Peter Rogers
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Patent number: 9516252Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for allowing a mobile device to dynamically obtain program guide data. A mobile device having the capability of playing media streams is configurable to dynamically request program guide structure information followed by program guide content information. In one example, the program guide structure information allows a user to begin navigating the program guide data in an active and dynamic manner. Program guide content information including data such as program titles, times, icons, and links are then downloaded and displayed as needed. Potentially limitless amounts of program guide data can be provided on a mobile device. Program guide content information can be provided in a generic manner while allowing user layout customization. Program guide information can also be preemptively provided to a mobile device based on a variety of criteria.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: MobiTV, Inc.Inventors: Gavin Peacock, James Roseborough, David Lowell, Aravind Nallan, Ian Farmer
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Patent number: 9514543Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating color names for colors corresponding to images and/or palettes. A color image is obtained, and one or more color palettes corresponding to the color image are identified. The color palette may be generated based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation, and palette determination. A color name for each color identified in the color palette and/or the color image can be identified based at least in part on color name popularity information. Color name popularity information may be identified from color name-related voting results provided by a social network site.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Charles Shearer Dorner, Robert Yuji Haitani, Gonzalo Alberto Ramos, Paul Barnhart Sayre, III
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Patent number: 9509784Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a system and methods for dynamic re-localization and manifest chunking in a content delivery network. In one implementation, a request for content is received. A first manifest subset is provided using a network component in response to the request for content. The first manifest subset identifies a first set of one or more content segments and a second manifest subset. The first set of one or more content segments constitute a portion of the content, and the second manifest subset is identified at a tail of the first manifest subset. The first set of one or more content segments is served in response to separate requests. A request for the second manifest subset identifying a second set of one or more content segments is received. In another implementation, localization errors are remedied by replacing a relative identifier with an absolute identifier.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventor: Kevin Christopher Johns
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Patent number: 9510051Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system is provided. A processor identifies an identity of a viewer of a display device, where the display device is displaying a first video feed. A processor retrieves a profile of the viewer, where the profile includes a plurality of preferences of the viewer. Responsive to a determination that a content of a second video feed that is available for viewing on the display device matches at least one of the plurality of preferences of the viewer, a processor displays an overlay of the second video feed on top of the first video feed. A processor identifies an acknowledgment made by the user regarding the overlay. A processor updates the overlay based, at least in part on, the acknowledgment made by the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Martin G. Keen, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
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Patent number: 9497635Abstract: A method for accessing an initial channel by a STA can comprise the steps of: the STA receiving, via a first band from a multiband AP, a scanning frame comprising a neighboring AP information element, wherein the neighboring AP information element comprises information for a second band which is an operating band for the neighboring AP; the STA determining whether accessing the neighboring AP is possible on the basis of information comprised in the neighboring AP information element regarding an access network type of the neighboring AP operating in the second band; if access to the neighboring AP is possible, the STA transmitting an association request frame to the neighboring AP via the second band, wherein the access network type can comprise information regarding an access permission type of a neighboring AP.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Giwon Park, Kiseon Ryu, Jinsam Kwak, Yongho Seok, Hangyu Cho
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Patent number: 9489169Abstract: A method for playing an original playlist and for substituting alternate versions of the songs during playback is disclosed. The user can set the extent to which the number and type of alternate versions are substituted into the original playlist.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Michael Dean Tschirhart
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Patent number: 9485537Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for asset recommendations based on asset effectiveness determinations. In one embodiment, an asset recommendation system operable to recommend insertion of assets into Video On Demand (VOD) content being selected by users through Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs). The system includes a recommendation engine communicatively coupled to an asset effectiveness evaluation module and to an asset decision system, wherein the recommendation engine is operable to accumulate demographic information associated with the determined effectiveness of the assets, to generate an anonymous user profile based on the accumulated demographic information and the associated effectiveness of the assets, and to recommend assets for insertion to the asset decision system based on the anonymous user profile.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canoe Ventures, LLCInventors: Jason Canney, Steve Markel, Tim Whitton, Bob Griese, Julie Samuelson, Chris Pizzurro, Mark Shepard, Yong Liu
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Patent number: 9479801Abstract: A system and method for signaling timing and content of personalized ads to a hybrid terminal via a television broadcast/multicast network. The currently-present ad insertion markers in the transport stream of the broadcast/multicast content are replaced by a Service Information, SI, table that contains information corresponding to the replaced markers. The table-containing transport stream is then delivered to the hybrid terminal. The SI table may include a manifest to signal upcoming time slots for advertising. The manifest may provide information about sources from which the hybrid terminal can fetch personalized advertisements and may also identify available time slots in the transport stream for inserting the fetched ads. To enable the hybrid terminal to present personalized advertisements to its viewer, the SI table may identify an Ad Decision Server, ADS, from which the hybrid terminal can request targeted ads for playback to the viewer watching a broadcast/multicast TV program.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Paul Higgs, Nilo Mitra
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Patent number: 9479842Abstract: Methods and products to deliver at least a portion of an advertisement to a viewer at normal playback speeds after receiving a command from the viewer to fast-forward through an advertisement faster than normal playback speeds is described. In certain embodiments, the invention delivers a portion of the advertisement to be played at normal playback speeds to the viewer; and delivers the remaining portion of the advertisement to be played at a playback speed that is faster than the specified playback speed so that the combination of the portions delivered at normal and faster playback speeds is delivered to the user at the specified playback speed. In some other embodiments, the invention delivers at least a portion of the first advertisement to the viewer at normal playback speeds; and delivers one or more other advertisements to the viewer simultaneously with the first advertisement with the audio information muted based on the specified playback speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Visible World, Inc.Inventor: Seth Haberman
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Patent number: 9462314Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism based on log entries in a traffic log. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored traffic log, wherein the log includes multiple ordered log entries including 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 show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry; (iv) making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and (v) responsive to making the three determinations, enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause processing of a next log entry in the log in response to being triggered.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLCInventor: Hank J. Hundemer
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Patent number: 9462354Abstract: Techniques and systems for operating a video ad exchange includes controlling an ad server to receive ad requests from viewer devices, provide ad responses to viewer devices, generate an ad delivery data file that includes information about delivery of ads to the viewer devices, and transfer the ad delivery data file to a distributed computing cloud. The technique further includes controlling an ad data infrastructure mechanism to download the cloud-based ad delivery data file into a local memory, and process the copied ad delivery data file to generate billing data. An ad data infrastructure mechanism receives a configuration file from the ad server, verifies that all items in the configuration file from the ad server were used in the generation of the first billing data, and removes non-verifiable items from the first billing data to generate a final billing data.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Giao Huu Phan, Daniel Wei-Tze Hsiung, Ian Graeme Melven, Brian Hardie, Joseph Gutierrez, Marshall Allen Beddoe, Pankaj Gupta, Bernardo de Seabra, Dru Nelson, Kam Ho Kenneth Cheung, Jason Endo
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Patent number: 9456245Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiving device including: a receiver configured to receive broadcast content; a trigger information acquirer configured to acquire trigger information for identifying a command to control an operation of an application program that is run in conjunction with the broadcast content and is delivered via a network; a correspondence table acquirer configured to acquire a correspondence table in which the command is associated with information for identifying the command; and a control section configured to control operations of a subject application program and another application program other than the subject application program in response to the command identified by the trigger information and the correspondence table.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Naohisa Kitazato, Mark Eyer
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Patent number: 9451310Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: QUANTUM STREAM INC.Inventor: Tayo Akadiri
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Patent number: 9450784Abstract: A gateway device performs authentication with an interconnect system that coordinates communication of data among a plurality of personal clouds. The gateway device is part of a first personal cloud that includes electronic devices. Data is communicated between the first personal cloud and at least a second personal cloud based on information in the interconnect system, wherein the communication is performed according to at least one rule provided at the gateway device, wherein the at least one rule includes at least one criterion relating to data to be shared among the plurality of personal clouds.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventor: David Schmidt
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Patent number: 9438860Abstract: A system and method may include receiving a media stream via a media delivery network, the media stream comprising a plurality of media segments, measuring a plurality of characteristics of a media segment of the plurality of media segments, and assigning a characteristics score to each of the plurality of characteristics. The system and method may further include applying a filter to the media segment to generate a media segment score based on the characteristics scores and to compare the media segment score with a threshold, and outputting a filtered media stream from the filter.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventor: Syed Zafar Beyabani
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Patent number: 9438957Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving targeted advertising to a user via a user device are described including receiving content provided by a content provider, rendering the provided content, viewing a commercial, wherein the commercial was spliced into the content based on a default commercial selection algorithm at a commercial break, determining if the user wants to rate the commercial, accepting the user's rating of the commercial if the user wants to rate the commercial and communicating the user's rating of the commercial to the content provider.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: THOMSON LICENSINGInventor: Chad Andrew Lefevre
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Patent number: 9436354Abstract: A database for selecting database items, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Kannuu Pty LtdInventor: Kevin Dinn
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Patent number: 9432316Abstract: A method of representing online discussions in conjunction with primary visual content is presented. In the method, the primary visual content is transmitted to a visual display for presentation to a user. A statement of an online discussion is received. In response to receiving the statement, a representation of the statement and an icon representing a source of the statement are transmitted in conjunction with the primary visual content for presentation on the visual display. The icon and the statement are coupled graphically on the visual display, and are placed near a periphery of the visual display. After a period of time while the icon and statement are presented on the display, presuming a second statement is not received from the source, the icon and the statement are removed from the display while the primary visual content is maintained on the display.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: EchoStar UK Holdings LimitedInventor: Mark Stephens
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Patent number: 9432712Abstract: For updating channel appearance, an appearance module stores an appearance modification to a channel appearance of a channel providing content from a content host. A modification module updates the channel appearance with the appearance modification if a modification policy is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: ZEFR, INC.Inventor: Zacharias Lee James
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Patent number: 9432715Abstract: A method for digital commerce in conjunction with a digital broadcast may comprise presenting a commercial message with a display device associated with a digital broadcast receiving device if a predetermined condition exists, wherein the predetermined condition is detected by a vehicle sensor and/or a biometric sensor included in the ancillary device; generating response information using ancillary data, wherein the response information is usable to determine an effectiveness of the commercial message in generating a response of a percipient of the commercial message; and transmitting the response information if a commercial transaction associated with the commercial message is completed. An alternative method may comprise, inter alia, determining an effectiveness of the commercial message in generating a response of a percipient of the commercial message.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLCInventor: Ken Miyaki
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Patent number: 9424402Abstract: A system, method and various software tools enable a video hosting website to automatically identified unlicensed audio content in video files uploaded by users, and initiate a process by which the user can replace the unlicensed content with licensed audio content. An audio replacement tool is provided that enables the user to permanently mute the original, unlicensed audio content of a video file, or select a licensed audio file from a collection of licensed audio, and insert the selected in place of the original audio. Where a video file includes unlicensed audio, the video hosting website provides access to video files to a client device, along with an indication to the client device to mute the audio during playback of the video.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Franck Chastagnol, Vijay Karunamurthy, Matthew Liu, Christopher Maxcy
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Patent number: 9419844Abstract: A method of generating media programming includes providing a first media source having a plurality of media elements, tags associated with each of the media elements, and one or more first media source templates for assembling of the media elements into media programming. The method further includes providing a second media source, the second media source having at least a second template and receiving a request for media programming at the second media source. The method further includes in response to the request, generating media programming including selected ones of the media elements assembled in accordance with at least the second template.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: NTECH PROPERTIES, INC.Inventor: Dwight Marcus
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Patent number: 9407940Abstract: Systems and apparatus for splicing a generic ad into a streaming media broadcast are provided when a user ad is not available. A splicer operates to receive streaming media on a primary channel, receive the user ad from a user ad server on a first channel, receive the generic ad from a generic ad server via a multicast address on a second channel, splice the user ad on the first channel into a streamed programming, splice the generic ad on the second channel into the streamed programming, and transmit the streamed programming into which ads have been spliced to a resulting channel. The generic ad server operates to transmit the generic ad to the multicast address. The user ad server operates to transmit the user ad over the first channel. The resulting channel operates to output the streamed programming.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Yaojun Sun, Christopher J. Mateski, Chuma U. Agogbua
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Patent number: 9407954Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a product placement event that is triggered by a placement stamp in a media program. The placement stamp may identify an occurrence of a product in the media program, where the occurrence is not an explicit advertisement. The method further may include searching a product description database according to a product identifier of the product placement event and receiving product advertising information matching the product identifier in an entry of the product description database. The product description database may have been updated, and the product advertising information may differ from what the product advertising information would have been if the product description database had not been updated. The method may further include presenting a product advertisement according to the product advertising information. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventor: Anthony Bonvolanta
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Patent number: 9407974Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for segmenting videos in a video hosting service. To determine segments related to timestamps, user generated comments are parsed for timestamps. The timestamps are organized into sets and a segment is identified for each set of timestamps. A start point for each segment is determined based on the timestamps in each set. The segment will have an endpoint that can be either the end of the itself, or optionally can be determined based on the timestamps. Each timestamp is associated with a segment. One or more indicators represent each timestamp and each indicator is coupled to the segment associated with timestamp represented by the indicator. The segments are ranked according to popularity or the submission time of their related timestamp indicators. Responsive to receiving a client request for a video, the comments, indicators, and segments are loaded to the client.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Stacey Kuznetsov
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Patent number: 9400982Abstract: A multimedia client receives, over a subscription multimedia network, television content for presentation to a viewer, where the television content includes an advertising break and identifies a keyword associated with the television content. The multimedia client sends, over the subscription multimedia network, the keyword to an advertisement server and receives from the advertisement server, an advertisement corresponding to the keyword. The multimedia client then provides, for display to the viewer, the advertisement within the advertising break.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventors: Armando P. Stettner, Donald Gene Archer, Harpal Singh Bassali, Dolapo Kukoyi, Michael P. Ruffini
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Patent number: 9402109Abstract: User-generated advertisements are distributed to client devices in a video content distribution network. For example, a client device may receive a user-generated advertisement, which is associated with one or more categories. The user-generated advertisement is associated with a channel based on a category of the advertisement. One or more channels of user-generated advertising, corresponding to the one or more categories, may be provided to a client device. Optionally, user-generated advertisements may be associated with a geographical identifier and distributed to client devices in a geographical region corresponding with the geographical identifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SLING MEDIA PVT LDTInventor: Neeraj Prasad
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Patent number: 9386329Abstract: A broadcast program processing device includes video content recording unit. The video content recording unit causes a storage unit to store a plurality of pieces of video content each of which includes at least one advertisement video. The broadcast program processing device changes the advertisement video included in a piece of video content stored in the storage unit to a substitute advertisement video before being instructed to play any one of the pieces of video content and plays the piece of video content whose advertisement video has been changed if instructed to play any one of the pieces of video content.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Nobutoshi Koyama, Hisashi Tomita