Patents Assigned to Rovi Guides
  • Patent number: 10140299
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for efficiently providing personalized search results to a user. Personalized search allows a user to receive search results that are most relevant to that user. For example, when a user with a strong interest in rap searches for “50 cent” they may be presented with top search results corresponding to 50 Cent's rap albums. Conversely, when a coin collector searches for “50 cent” they may be presented with top search results containing antique coins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Maughan, Paul Stathacopoulos
  • Patent number: 10142585
    Abstract: System and methods for synchronizing supplemental media content to media content being provided by a different content source. The systems and methods may identify media content from user input, and determine a plurality of associated supplementary media. By monitoring and interpreting a data stream containing information about the primary media content, the systems and methods may interpret indicia of content ceasing and resuming and similarly cease and resume playback of the supplemental media in response, preserving the synchronicity of the multiple content sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Chung
  • Patent number: 10142674
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically recording media assets not explicitly scheduled for recording by a user when the user leaves his or her home. For example, when the user leaves home, a media guidance application, being executed on a user equipment device (such as a set-top box), schedules to record media assets that the user has expressed interest in, but has not explicitly scheduled for recording. If the user returns home before a recording has begun, the media guidance application does not record the media assets the user has not explicitly scheduled for recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwini Dharwa, Vikram Makam Gupta
  • Patent number: 10142686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for disambiguation of an ambiguous entity in a search query based on the gaze of a user. These systems and methods may be implemented by a media guidance application (e.g., executed by user equipment associated with the user). In some aspects, the media guidance application may monitor the gaze of the user and attempt to disambiguate the ambiguous entity based on an area of the screen the user viewed while issuing the search query. If the media guidance application receives an indication that it did not disambiguate the ambiguous entity in the search query correctly, the media guidance application may increase the area of the screen that the user viewed in order to find an additional entity. This may allow the media guidance application to quickly and accurately find the correct answer to the user's search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Gupta, William L. Thomas, Mathew C. Burns, Gabriel C. Dalbec, Alexander W. Liston, Jonathan A. Logan, Margret B. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10135632
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining whether a user is authorized to perform an action that meets a goal of a sound. A media guidance application may detect a sound generated by a first device external to a media equipment device. The media guidance application may retrieve, from a lookup table, a known goal that is associated with the sound. The media guidance application may detect a user in a viewing environment. The media guidance application may determine an identity of the user, and may modify playback to encourage or discourage the user from achieving the known goal based on the identity of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen E. Roe, Michael McCarty, Charles Dawes, Milan Patel
  • Patent number: 10136170
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for an optimization system that recommends amounts of resources for use in reaching viewers during a media asset. The optimization system, using control circuitry, receives a user input of a first value of a resource and determines a first rate at which a number of unique household viewers reached during a first media asset changes for the first value. The optimization system compares the first rate to a threshold rate and determines whether the first rate equals or exceeds the threshold rate. The optimization system, in response to determining that the first rate does not equal or exceed the threshold rate, recommends a second value to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Meyer, Randall Kelley, Matthew Emans, Walter R. Klappert, Steven Bennett
  • Patent number: 10134386
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying content corresponding to a language are provided. Language spoken by a first user based on verbal input received from the first user is automatically determined with voice recognition circuitry. A database of content sources is cross-referenced to identify a content source associated with a language field value that corresponds to the determined language spoken by the first user. The language field in the database identifies the language that the associated content source transmits content to a plurality of users. A representation of the identified content source is generated for display to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Shuchita Mehra
  • Patent number: 10133735
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for training a model to accurately determine whether two phrases are conversationally connected. A media guidance application may detect a first phrase and a second phrase, translate each phrase to a string of word types, append each string to the back of a prior string to create a combined string, determine a degree to which any of the individual strings matches any singleton template, and determine a degree to which the combined string matches any conversational template. Based on the degrees to which the individual and combination strings match the singleton and conversational templates, respectively, strengths of association are correspondingly updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Sashikumar Venkataraman, Ahmed Nizam Mohaideen P, Manik Malhotra
  • Patent number: 10133810
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiment, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 10127398
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a media guidance application that provides advanced parental control features such as allowing parents to establish parental controls in a dynamic and individualized manner and allowing parents to track and/or limit the amount of time that a child views media content of a particular type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta, Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah
  • Patent number: 10123062
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed herein for excluding consumed content from a content presentation. Specifically, fingerprints for each unique media asset included in a compilation of media content consumed by a user may be obtained and stored in a user's profile. Fingerprints for each unique media asset included in another compilation of media content may be generated and compared with fingerprints stored in the user's profile to determine which of the unique media assets in the other compilation have been consumed by the user. The second compilation may be presented to the user without the unique media assets that were consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Matthews, Benjamin H. Maughan
  • Patent number: 10123089
    Abstract: A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Thomas R. Lemmons, William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10120437
    Abstract: A media guidance application that allows users to associate input schemes with physical objects in an augmented reality environment is disclosed. Specifically, the media guidance application may recognize physical objects in an augmented reality environment and allow users to identify input schemes to associate with the physical objects. Such input schemes may define ways in which the users may control presentation of media content by interacting with the physical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Edison Lin
  • Patent number: 10123078
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for selecting media content based on travel information. A set of media content items is maintained. Each media content items having a respective associated spoiler metadata item that lists a spoiler time value that corresponds to a time when a spoiler event occurs in a respective media content item. Travel information related to a planned trip is received from a user. A trip duration value is determined based on the received travel information. The trip duration value is compared to a spoiler time value of a spoiler metadata item associated with a media content item of the set of media content items. In response to determining that the spoiler time value exceeds the trip duration value, the media content item is provided for display during the planned trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McCarty, Timothy A. Holmes, Glen E. Roe
  • Patent number: 10116993
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, Thomas R. Lemmons, Kevin D. Satterfield, Donald W. Allison, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10110952
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for performing user device power conservation. To this end, the systems and methods operate a user device in a normal operation mode to provide media content to the user device. While operating in the normal operation mode, Systems and methods monitor the provided media content to determine that the provided media content includes an event that is of interest to the user. In response to determining that the provided media content includes an event of interest to the user, systems and methods enter an enhanced mode. In the enhanced mode, systems and methods determine that an enriched media content is relevant to the provided media content. In response to determining that the enriched media content is relevant to the provided media, systems and methods provide the enriched media content to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta, Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah
  • Patent number: 10110961
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that enhances the viewer experience by providing supplemental content related to a media asset during a fast-access playback operation. For example, in response to a user input during a fast-forward or rewind operation, the media guidance application may generate for display supplemental content related to the progression point of the media asset at which the user input was received while the fast-forward or rewind operation continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul T. Stathacopoulos
  • Patent number: 10110959
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that recommends media content to a user based on the media content likely to be available to a user at a given location and the quality of service at that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Patel, Imran Khaliq
  • Patent number: 10110939
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for presenting, a service application including dynamic icons. The systems and methods may generate for display first and second service applications represented by first and second media assets, respectively. The systems and methods may receive a user selection of a service state of the first application and determine, for the first application, one of a first and one of a second plurality of media assets available on the first and second service application, respectively, corresponding to the service state. The systems and methods may replace the first and second media assets with the fourth and fifth media assets respectively, wherein the fourth and fifth media assets correspond to the one of a first and one of a second plurality of media assets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: David Gerald Wittke
  • Patent number: 10104445
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for generating and providing a playlist of content relevant to a user that is to be played back instead of advertisement content. In some embodiments, a media guidance application may access a profile of a user, and may generate a playlist comprising a plurality of program content based on data of the profile. The media guidance application may determine that advertisement content is imminently to be played back to the user, and, in response to determining that the advertisement content is imminently to be played back to the user, the media guidance application may select program content of the playlist to play back instead of the advertisement content, and generate for display the program content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Indu Patel, Kevin Scott Bright, Emily Louise Weigand, Nancy Huynh