Patents Assigned to Cox communications, INC
  • Patent number: 10656607
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods related to intelligent automation control of an environment based at least on intelligence associated with the behavior of an operator and/or equipment. For example, a system access one or more information streams from a group of agents associated with an operational environment. The system may determine based on at least one of the one or more information streams, intelligence associated with the behavior of an agent of the group of agents or in proximity to the operational environment. The system may determine a control operation based at least on the determined intelligence, the control operation being associated with an automation control asset configured to regulate at least one agent of the group of agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc
    Inventors: Dipan Patel, Nadine Finnerty, Edgar V. Shrum, Jr., Andrew Goldberg, Haynes Taylor
  • Patent number: 10601808
    Abstract: Single sign-in for accessing protected content across all providers and access channels is provided. When a user selects to view an additional content item, a determination may be made whether access authentication from the requesting user is required. If access authentication is required, a federated login credential may be received from the requesting user. The federated login credential may be used for granting access by the requesting user to the selected additional content item across different content channels, and the federated login credential may be used for granting access by the requesting user to other protected content items without requiring additional access authentication from the requesting user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa
  • Patent number: 10558333
    Abstract: Network-based video manipulation resources to a client device is provided. A service provider may provide a guide experience that incorporates thumbnail videos as part of the navigation experience. “Personalized” mosaics and video-tiles are provided as part of the guide such that the mosaic has an integrated look and feel. The guide experience may also include an optional guide-view as part of the navigation guide. Further, the guide experience may receive input from a user to personalize the mosaic for the user. Mosaics may be defined including a plurality of thumbnails which may be available for display on a client device. Per a request received to manipulate a thumbnail within the mosaic with a video, the selected video may be retrieved, manipulated and transcoded in accordance with the request. The thumbnail may then be updated with the selected video within the mosaic, and the mosaic may be transmitted to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventor: Keith Alan Rothschild
  • Patent number: 10390105
    Abstract: Dynamic uniform resource locator (URL) insertion may be provided for allowing a user to view a linear video content item along with additional content in order to provide a richer and deeper viewing experience giving more control to the user during video viewing. An indication may be provided to the user indicating the availability of additional interactive content associated with the linear video in a variety of different ways, for example, display of an icon overlaid on a viewing guide user interface, a menu option, etc. Upon request, the content associated with the URL may be presented to the user in order to present the linear video content combined with the additional content in a hybrid fashion. The inserted URL may be static, or the URL may be dynamically updated based on one or more factors, such as time of day, content or action by the user or content provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa, Eric S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10356035
    Abstract: Social network friend-based recommendations are provided. Based on user consumption data provided by one or more service providers, a determination may be made as to which social network contacts a user has who may have preferences for video, music, and other media that are close to the user's. The determination of social network contacts who share a common interest and the user consumption data of those social network contacts may be utilized to infer recommendations for the user. Other functionalities may be provided, such as manual recommendations, placing emphasis on recommendations from particular friends, email notifications of content that a friend has consumed that the user has not, an option to view what a social network contact is viewing, providing a list of programs that the user and a social network contact have both seen, and providing advertisements based on consumption data, recommendations, and/or discovered areas of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Douglas D. Gravino, Ryan M. S. Baker
  • Patent number: 10306314
    Abstract: A system, method and device for providing a mobile application across smart phone platforms to enable consumer connectivity and control of media. The viewing experience of the individual is improved by the added control and the advertising experience is enhanced by ensuring advertisements are relevant and actionable. A system for providing interactivity between a mobile device and content includes a content provider providing content for presentation on a display device and a mobile device configured with a media management module communicating to provide user interactivity with the content. The media management module enables individualized consumer media services for the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Michael Joseph McCarthy, Keith Alan Rothschild
  • Patent number: 10136188
    Abstract: Data associated with content available for immediate viewing is aggregated into a program guide. A plurality of content sources for content available for immediate viewing is mined to obtain data associated with the content available for immediate viewing from the plurality of content sources. The mined data is processed to create a program guide identifying the content available for immediate viewing. The program guide displaying the identified content available for immediate viewing is presented to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, Jay Paul Langa, Anant Pralhad Patil
  • Patent number: 10135887
    Abstract: Synchronized multi-media annotations for shared video content is provided. According to embodiments, viewers of video content may be enabled to create multimedia annotations such as simple text comments, short videos, audio snippets, links to websites or other online content, etc., and associate the annotations with certain points or sections in the source video. When a user “shares” these annotations with a community of friends, the friends can then watch the source video and simultaneously view and/or listen to the comments their friend(s) have made. Friends may respond back with their own annotations, and again share those out to the group of friends. Later, users who have previously left comments may be able to go back and see other users' comments/annotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Esser, Douglas David Gravino
  • Patent number: 10104438
    Abstract: Automatic population of a programming guide mosaic screen is provided. Attributes relating to a user or group of users may be collected and utilized to identify one or more recommended content items relevant to the user. A visual display of the recommended content may comprise a combination of content currently airing on a channel selected by the user as a favorite channel, content rated highly by the user and/or by other users, content matching a commonly watched genre by the user, content associated with keyword searches, etc. Factors utilized to determine the type of content to automatically include in the programming guide mosaic screen may be dynamically updated according to changes in video viewing activity, received feedback, content purchases, or changes made to the user's preference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Catherine Elizabeth Thompson, John Kelly King, Katy Kozee, Anant Patil
  • Patent number: 10003937
    Abstract: Routing of short message service (SMS) communications from a networked communication device to a networked cable television (CATV) services system device (e.g., set-top box STB) is provided. SMS messages may be sent to a user's wireline phone, mobile phone, or other communication device as identified by a unique identification number (UIN). Upon identifying if the intended destination device is operative to receive SMS messages or if a provision has been made to route an incoming SMS message, the SMS message may be routed to a networked cable services system device (e.g., a set-top box or CATV-enabled telephone) associated with an account of the intended destination device. The cable services system device may receive an SMS message and may be operative to render the message on a display. In addition, the device may also be operative to send SMS messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: John Fountain, Jr., Geffrey Greg Gascay
  • Patent number: 9805207
    Abstract: Video content sharing is provided. A user may select friends from various social networking site accounts and aggregate those friends into a friends list with the user's video service provider. The user may select a video to share, select friends with whom he/she would like to share the video, and a link to the video may be created. The video link, a token, and, if applicable, a link to download a video player may be sent to each selected friend in an invitation via email, text, programming guide, or social media services. The token may be used for tracking the sender and the receiver of the video, contain authorization information allowing each friend to watch protected content, and may be used to authenticate the receiving user. Each friend may be enabled to stream the shared video and watch the content based on rules associated with the token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, Jay Paul Langa, James Alan Strothmann
  • Patent number: 9762349
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing transmission and reception of hybrid time and wavelength division multiplexed signals on passive optical networks are provided. Networks that use shared transmission media avoid interference between transmitters by restricting the times or wavelengths that given transmitters may use to transmit their messages. The hybrid broadcast WDM TDM PON architecture enables transmitters to use multiple fixed wavelengths for parallel optical transmission within given timeslots to avoid interference with other transmitters and make use of inexpensive fixed optical components to gain a speed advantage over existing architectures while making use of their deployed infrastructure. A single scheduling manager controls the timeslots of upstream and downstream transmissions, which make use of existing standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventor: Yuxin Dai
  • Patent number: 9741226
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a status of an entity presents an interface for defining status parameters for configuring a monitoring profile, receives input defining status parameters for configuring the monitoring profile, establishes the monitoring profile for a monitored entity based upon the received input defining status parameters for configuring the monitoring profile and executes the established monitoring profile according to the defined status parameters. A processor generates a user interface for receiving input defining status parameters for configuring a monitoring profile, establishes the monitoring profile for a monitored entity based upon the received input defining status parameters for configuring the monitoring profile and executes the established monitoring profile according to the defined status parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Keith Alan Rothschild, Rachel Snow
  • Patent number: 9697295
    Abstract: A uniform resource locator (URL) monitoring system and method employs rules for dynamically managing URLs associated with streamed video content. The system monitors the content stream for URLs and, when a URL is detected, applies the rules to determine how to handle the URL. The system may disable selected trick modes to prevent additional content from being skipped. Alternatively, the system may display the URL while a trick mode is active and, if the URL is followed, suspend the trick mode and show the additional content. URLs encountered during trick modes may be captured and the URL or additional content presented when normal playback resumes. Additionally, the system may determine whether to fit saved URLs around other URLs later in the content stream, display saved URLs simultaneously with the later URLs, or replace the later URLs with the saved URLs based on the handling rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa
  • Patent number: 9693110
    Abstract: Dynamic content stream management of may be provided. A selection of a content element may be received and an encoding scheme may be selected. The content element may be transmitted to the requesting client in the selected encoding scheme. During transmission, a different encoding scheme may be selected according to changing conditions, such as network congestion. The client may be switched over to receive the content element in the new encoding scheme instead of the originally selected encoding scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Edgar V. Shrum, Jr., John Civiletto
  • Patent number: 9681184
    Abstract: Exposing consumers to content of secondary interest via a content distribution network is becoming increasingly difficult as Video on Demand gains popularity and consumers isolate themselves from secondary content, including: new programs, emergency alerts, etc. Additionally, ensuring that the consumers are consuming secondary content that is provided to them via the content distribution network poses technical difficulties for the service provider. Therefore, systems and methods that encourage consumers to consume secondary content and verify its consumption non-intrusively are of increasing importance to service providers. Providing consumers with the ability to opt in and out of tracking and verification for the promotion of content allows consumers to be provided secondary content and for the service provider to appropriately reward the consumers for consuming the content to encourage additional consumption of secondary content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Ray Killick, Muhammad Asif Raza
  • Publication number: 20160269127
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, devices and systems for a millimeter wave (MMW) last mile delivery system. A multi-wavelength fiber link may be provided from a collector terminal node area to a central office. One or more streams of data may be wirelessly transmitted from the collector terminal node area to user equipment. Based at least in part on the one or more streams of data, multi-gigabit Ethernet may then be provided to the user equipment utilizing an analog or digital modulation scheme over one or more channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc
    Inventor: HARJINDER GHUMAN
  • Publication number: 20110105091
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for allowing a monitoring party to have intermediary control over a communication between a calling party and a called party. A notification may be sent to a monitoring party of an incoming communication attempt to a called party, and the monitoring party may control the routing and/or processing of the communication based on a real-time response to the notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc
    Inventor: Segen Jones
  • Patent number: 7814522
    Abstract: A system for automatically pausing a video program in response to detection of the occurrence of a audio communications event or triggering event. In response to an incoming phone call, message, web page, or other communications information, the system pauses the video program and displays an indication of the occurrence of the audio communications event. The system also buffers the video programming while paused, permitting a user to replay missed portions of the video programming. Alternatively, the system waits for a triggering event, which includes the user's access to the audio communications event, in order to pause the video program. The audio (voice) portion of a phone call or voice mail message is converted to text for display to a recipient of the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc
    Inventor: Michael L. Asmussen
  • Patent number: 7594254
    Abstract: A system and method for transmitting files from a sender to a receiver in a television distribution system, for example, a cable television distribution network, is provided. The files are transmitted without the need for transmitting a directory over an out of band communications link. In an exemplary embodiment, a filename corresponding to a file to be transmitted is provided to a transform. The transform calculates a PID based on the filename. The calculated PID is incorporated into the MPEG2 data stream carrying the corresponding file contents. When an application program running in the receiver requests a file, the filename of the requested file is provided to a transform operating in the receiver. The transmitter and receiver transforms are identical. The transform provides a corresponding PID at its output. The PID is used to tune a PID filter on the receiver end such that the requested file is selected from the incoming MPEG bit stream for processing by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc
    Inventors: James Parnell, Matthew Schrier, John Denison, John Wurtz