Patents Assigned to Cox Communications
  • Patent number: 10028004
    Abstract: A system for compensating for the effect of a live television program airing beyond a previously determined end time on the provision of channel guides, pop up program reminders, and/or video recording of television programs by network interface devices of a subscription based television service provider. First data messages are generated and communicated by a computer of the live television program's source configured with messaging software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Brady Anderson
  • Publication number: 20180173953
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a device and methods for determining an image. The disclosure further describes devices and methods for detecting a vehicle in the image; extracting at least one first feature from the image; determining a match between each of the at least one first feature and each of at least one second features stored the at least one memory; and determining a ranking of the each of the at least one first feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: JAMEEL GHATA, LEANDRO F. LICHTENSZTEIN, AGUSTIN CAVERZASI, ERIC F. ROMANENGHI, EMANUEL E. LUPI, RAFAEL SZUMINSKI
  • Patent number: 10003849
    Abstract: Video on Demand (VOD) content is enjoyed by consumers, but its selection and delivery is often tedious for consumers and uses large amounts of bandwidth for service providers. By providing VOD channels that consumers may freely navigate, service providers not only improve the user experience for consumers, but may reduce the bandwidth needed to request and send navigation commands. VOD channels provide VOD content to consumers according to criteria and preferences set by the consumer, and allow navigation within a VOD channel, between separate VOD channels, and between menus and linear channels. Channel guides and viewing features are tailored for VOD channels to further improve the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ray Killick
  • Patent number: 10003546
    Abstract: Allowing a subscriber to modify a data transfer rate or available bandwidth associated with an Internet subscription tier for a selected or predetermined time period is provided. Upon receiving an indication of a selection to decrease an allowed amount of bandwidth or to boost or increase a data transfer rate to a next available service tier, a request may be sent to a gateway device associated with the subscriber to override firmware on the gateway device to restrict access to an amount of bandwidth or to allow access to additional bandwidth respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Clasen, Lior Koren, Franco Morales, Carson Banov, Shubh Singhi, Joshua Edward Fierstein, Douglas David Gravino
  • 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: 9990115
    Abstract: User interface modules for providing additional interactive content via dynamic URL insertion within video applications may be provided. Available content items may be analyzed and prescreened to identify various user interface modules that may be used to provide indication of availability of additional interactive content. When a user selects to view a content item, the system may further perform a search to identify newer additional content associated with the requested content item and update the user interface modules, if necessary. The user interface modules may be presented to allow the user to access the associated additional content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa, Anant Patil
  • Patent number: 9985836
    Abstract: A network taxonomy indicating relative locations of network access device within an access network is determined using timing data, performance data such as equalization coefficient data, and/or various other types of data. The timing data may indicate a travel time for a pair of network messages (e.g., network packets) between two network nodes such as two network access devices within the access network. A distance between the two network nodes may then be determined using this time of travel and a propagation velocity of signals transmitted through a transmission media via which the network nodes are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Finkelstein, John Civiletto
  • Patent number: 9980007
    Abstract: Generating and dynamically updating a personalized programming guide is provided. Personalized information associated with a user's viewing activity and interaction with a programming guide may be collected and communicated with a server. The server may share the personalized information with a database, which may process the information to identify one or more most watched channels and to determine recommendations for the user. Additional personalized settings may be collected, processed, and utilized to filter recommendations and relevant content. Recommendations and content tied to the user's favorite channels, most watched channels, and user-specified or automatically recognized genres and themes may be provided to the user via a client device or application. The user may access the personalized programming guide via a variety of client devices via various communication mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Elizabeth Thompson, Katy Kozee, Thomas G. Holzman, Anant Patil
  • Patent number: 9979564
    Abstract: Aggregate functionality associated with multiple network communication layers may be decomposed and respective functionality associated with different network communication layers may be implemented on different devices. One or more aspects of respective functionality associated with a particular network communication layer may be virtualized based on the decomposition of the aggregate functionality. Virtual customer networks may be established for providing network-based services to a subscriber of an access network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 9967513
    Abstract: A multi-room media network includes a network for providing device interconnectivity for receiving and sending data and a plurality of content control devices coupled to the network. Password control for multi-room digital video recorder is provided through the resetting and/or resynchronization of a password for a multi-room digital video recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zhao, Craig Smithpeters
  • Patent number: 9967237
    Abstract: A Layer Two Tunnel may be established between one or more user devices and a tunnel aggregator device via a home gateway. By establishing the Layer Two Tunnel, the tunnel aggregator and other entities of an access network, such as a multi-system operator (MSO) network, may be configured to identify individual user devices at a customer premise. As a result, the network operator may be able to offer individual user device and user based services. Additionally, operations, such as DHCP, NAT, etc., that may otherwise be conducted at a customer premise, such as by a home gateway, may be performed at the MSO and/or in the cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 9959349
    Abstract: Trending content items from the user's social network(s) are provided in the form of one or more channel(s) or a guide. Various social networks of the user may be analyzed and the trending content may identified and sorted based on one or more of popularity, availability, etc. The trending content items may be updated automatically and/or dynamically to reflect any changes in trends based on spikes in discussions, like/dislike feedback, etc. The trending content items may be personalized based on the user's social networks and may differ for various user profiles within the same household.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yousef Wasef Nijim, James Alan Strothmann, Jay Paul Langa
  • Patent number: 9955396
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for systems and methods to enable mobile devices to connect to the Internet while in a moving vehicle that includes one or more internal cabin access points (CAPs) and one or more external vehicle access point (VAPs), but are not so limited. A disclosed system operates to enable passengers to use one or more mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. to connect to the Internet via access points (APs) positioned along the path of travel of a moving vehicle. A disclosed method operates to seamlessly maintain network connectivity for wireless device users of a vehicle network moving from one service station AP to another service station AP along a path of travel of a moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Sean Heinz
  • Patent number: 9948989
    Abstract: An interactive media content listing search system is herein disclosed which provides for enhanced interactive access of media content listings contained within an media content display system. Enhanced searching for available media contents is enabled by a plurality of user configurable attributes, which defines characteristics of media content that may be similar to the user's tastes. The plurality of user configurable attributes may be logically combined during the search operation using “AND” and/or “OR” boolean operators. Additionally, means are provided to allow recursive searches of available media content listings in an easy manner such that the results may be more finely tailored to suit the user's tastes. Following the search operation, the user may save the search attributes to a file that is stored within the system for use at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sandi Hannum, Peter Sheedy, James R. Albrecht, Terri L. Swartz, Bruce R. Bradley, Matt Wong
  • Patent number: 9948970
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems, methods and apparatuses for recording and viewing content items on multiple devices. According to an example embodiment, a method is provided for displaying recorded content to a user. The method includes receiving, from a playback device and by a service provider system comprising at least one processor, a request to retrieve a recorded content item, wherein the recorded content item is recorded on a recording device. The method further includes identifying, by the service provider system, based at least in part upon the received request, at least a portion of the recorded content item as a unique recording specific to the recording device. The method also includes facilitating, by the service provider system, access of the unique recording to the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: John Civiletto
  • Publication number: 20180102971
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products to provide application layer, Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer functionality by separate discrete devices, for example, in order to form a distributed MAC/PHY architecture for communications networks. In various embodiments, an application layer (layer-3) device can communicate (e.g., serialize and/or send data frames and/or packets) with a MAC layer (layer-2) device. Further, the layer-2 device may perform the activities of a switch that switches the IP layer (layer-3) information to MAC layer information. Further the layer-2 device can use addressing information determined or received from the layer-3 device to choose a particular PHY layer (layer-1) device. The layer-2 device can then instruct the layer-1 device, using one or more parameters, to modulate information on one or more predetermined frequencies and/or wavelengths over a given physical medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 9942068
    Abstract: Devices and methods for enabling the use of legacy-equipment in light of evolving and conflicting standards used by new-equipment are provided. When a standard for transmission on a network conflicts with an existing standard, legacy-equipment, which uses the existing standard, may prevent the implementation of new-equipment, which uses a new or updated standard, on the network. Although many standards strive for backwards compatibility or interoperability with other standards, not all standards are compatible, or they achieve backwards compatibility by disabling features of new-equipment until legacy-equipment has been upgraded or removed from the network. Devices and methods therefore are provided to isolate legacy-equipment and new-equipment so that the new features of evolving standards may be implemented for new-equipment without materially impacting the operation of legacy-equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher James Topazi
  • Patent number: 9929870
    Abstract: Methods and systems for emulating cable services delivery are disclosed. One system includes a conditional access network handler emulator comprising a conditional access network handler simulator addressable by one or more applications within an emulation environment. The conditional access network handler emulator also includes a library of conditional access configuration data accessible to a conditional access network handler simulator, the configuration data unassociated with a physical cable card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Calzone
  • Patent number: 9924036
    Abstract: Caller specific information is linked to a call using a key for database retrieval of caller specific data. A pool of rolling Automatic Number Identification (ANI) codes is maintained. A call is received at a rolling ANI device. A rolling ANI is assigned to the call. The assigned rolling ANI is provided in a field identifying the call. The call and the assigned rolling ANI in the field identifying the call is routed to a call handler. A voice path and data associated with the call is received at the call handler. The data is parsed to determine a rolling ANI associated with the call. Caller specific information is obtained from a database record in a database identified by the rolling ANI. The obtained caller specific information is used to process the call seamlessly without prompting the caller for information in the database record associated with the rolling ANI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Joseph Cutajar
  • Patent number: 9912664
    Abstract: Allowing a subscriber of media content services or products to receive filtered content based on the current viewer's profile (i.e., age, gender, maturity, etc.) as opposed to the viewer's physical location is provided. Media content for which filtering may apply may be in the form of movies, television shows, music for listening/downloading, video games, internet browsing, and the like. Upon logging in from the endpoint device interface (television/set-top-box, desktop computer, laptop computer, smart-phone, touch computer, etc.), log-in information may be compared with predefined profiles set up by the primary account holder and filtered media content may be delivered to match the profile of the current logged in end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Lam, Jayasri Devalapalli, Jay P. Langa, Yousef Wasef Nijim