Patents Assigned to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
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Patent number: 12225555Abstract: A method disclosed includes receiving data from a plurality of data sources in a broadcast core network for transmission over a radio access network (RAN). The method includes assigning radio spectrum resources for transmitting the data over the RAN according to a policy guidance set by a plurality of network operators for sharing the radio spectrum resources and generating a baseband packet corresponding to the data at a distributed unit (DU) in the RAN. The method includes collecting transmission data from a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in the RAN for training a machine learning algorithm and scheduling transmission of the generated baseband packet to a remote unit (RU) over a fronthaul in a radio topology of a plurality of radio topologies under control of the machine learning algorithm according to the policy guidance. The generated baseband packet is compatible for transmission in the plurality of radio technologies.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Simon, Mark A. Aitken, Ebenezer K. Kofi, Louis Herbert Libin
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Publication number: 20250048400Abstract: A method disclosed includes receiving data from a plurality of data sources in a broadcast core network for transmission over a radio access network (RAN). The method includes assigning radio spectrum resources for transmitting the data over the RAN according to a policy guidance set by a plurality of network operators for sharing the radio spectrum resources and generating a baseband packet corresponding to the data at a distributed unit (DU) in the RAN. The method includes scheduling transmission of the generated baseband packet to a remote unit (RU) over a fronthaul in a radio topology of a plurality of radio topologies according to the policy guidance. The generated baseband packet is compatible for transmission in the plurality of radio technologies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. SIMON, Mark A. AITKEN, Ebenezer K. KOFI, Louis Herbert LIBIN
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Patent number: 12148420Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing the presentation of content through obtaining viewership metrics, generating multiple renditions of presentations of content, and selecting optimized renditions of content. One aspect includes associating a request for viewership metrics with a presentation of content, publishing the presentation of content, and receiving information of the viewership metrics associated with the presentation. Another aspect includes copying a presentation of a content item, creating a second presentation of the content item for publishing over one or more channels, and linking the presentation of the content item to the second presentation of the content item, such that a change to one propagates to the other of the presentation of the content item or the second presentation of the content item. In yet another aspect, a content rendition may be selected for presentation based on performance of the rendition out of multiple renditions in an auction.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11955116Abstract: Content is organized for brands by selecting a plurality of brand templates. After each selection, a set of properties is generated by applying a portion of settings of the respective brand template, with the remaining settings being overridden with settings for a channel communicating one of a plurality of presentations to a node of a network involved in the communication. The plurality of presentations may include different renditions of the same content. The properties may include sections configured for different focus areas and/or types of content associated with at tags to enable brand-level-targeting. Filters may be identified in the properties. Based on each of the identifications, a property from among the generated sets of properties may be selected based on comparisons with the associated tags.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11895186Abstract: Organizing and publishing content in a content management system wherein content, including text, images and video, is received and segmented into content atoms. One or more tags are associated with the content atoms to allow device specific presentation of the content atoms.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Miller, Kevin J. Cotlove, Michael E. Bouchard, Paul D. Norton, David Thornton, Jonathan D. Kersten, Jason D. Justman
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Publication number: 20230337156Abstract: Disclosed herein are method and apparatus for Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 and non-ATSC 3.0 broadcast Direct to Mobile (D2M) co-exist aligned open radio access network (O-RAN). One aspect of this disclosure operates by generating a broadcast frame conforming to a first communications protocol, where the broadcast frame conforming to the first communication protocol includes a slice start (SS) portion. The embodiment further generates a broadcast virtual frame container including the broadcast frame conforming to the first communication protocol and a broadcast frame conforming to a second communication protocol, where the broadcast virtual frame container further includes a virtual frame start (VFS) portion, and transmits the broadcast virtual frame container.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. SIMON, Mark A. AITKEN, Louis Herbert LIBIN
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Patent number: 11783816Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for providing a graphical user interface for configuring presentations of content and controlling distribution of content, for example, through in conjunction with a management system.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11729039Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method includes selecting a length for an advanced television system committee (ATSC) 3.0 frame for transmission by a single frequency network (SFN) transmitter and aligning the SFN transmitter with a global positioning system (GPS) epoch. The method further includes storing geographical coordinates of the SFN transmitter and a corresponding SFN transmitter identification (TX ID) in a database. The method also includes encoding the SFN TX ID in a non-coherent symbol of a plurality of positioning navigation timing (PNT) symbols comprising a plurality of coherent symbols and the non-coherent symbol with orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) numerology to support positioning. The method further includes prepending the plurality of PNT symbols to the ATSC 3.0 frame to generate a modified ATSC 3.0 frame and transmitting the modified ATSC 3.0 using a SFN transmitter antenna of the SFN transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Simon, Mark A. Aitken, Ebenezer K. Kofi, Louis Herbert Libin
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Patent number: 11727924Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect, the described techniques may include streaming a segment of primary content, for example, by a reduce capability client device, such as a mobile device or tablet. The device may receive information indicative of a break in the streaming of the primary content. The device may play secondary content based on receiving the information indicative of the break. The device may determine when a next segment of the primary content is available, and begin streaming the next segment of the primary content upon detecting that the second segment of the primary content is available.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11676584Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for distributing syndicated content or content with one or more distribution restrictions. In one aspect, a method may include assigning a unique ID to a plurality of content items, where the unique ID of at least one of the content items is associated with one or more property distribution restrictions. The method may further include streaming in a video stream the content items to at least two properties and monitoring the unique IDs of the plurality of content items streamed in the video stream to detect least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions. The distribution of the least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions may be blocked from the one or more properties concurrently with streaming the video stream, based on the one or more property distribution restrictions.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11664019Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing the presentation of content through obtaining viewership metrics, generating multiple renditions of presentations of content, and selecting optimized renditions of content. One aspect includes associating a request for viewership metrics with a presentation of content, publishing the presentation of content, and receiving information of the viewership metrics associated with the presentation. Another aspect includes copying a presentation of a content item, creating a second presentation of the content item for publishing over one or more channels, and linking the presentation of the content item to the second presentation of the content item, such that a change to one propagates to the other of the presentation of the content item or the second presentation of the content item. In yet another aspect, a content rendition may be selected for presentation based on performance of the rendition out of multiple renditions in an auction.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 11527239Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for distributing syndicated content or content with one or more distribution restrictions. In one aspect, a method may include assigning a unique ID to a plurality of content items, where the unique ID of at least one of the content items is associated with one or more property distribution restrictions. The method may further include streaming in a video stream the content items to at least two properties and monitoring the unique IDs of the plurality of content items streamed in the video stream to detect least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions. The distribution of the least one content item associated with the one or more property distribution restrictions may be blocked from the one or more properties concurrently with streaming the video stream, based on the one or more property distribution restrictions.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Publication number: 20220338164Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure are direct to a system that includes a first scheduler configured to receive an input packet and generate a first packet to be transmitted using a first radio unit (RU). The system further includes a second scheduler configured to receive the first packet from the first scheduler and generate a second packet. The second packet is to be transmitted using a second RU. The system further includes a first fronthaul operated using evolved Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) protocol and configured to direct the first packet to the first RU to be transmitted on a first channel having a first frequency. The system further includes a second fronthaul operated using the eCPRI protocol and configured to direct the second packet to the second RU to be transmitted on a second channel having a second frequency different from the first frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. SIMON, Louis Herbert LIBIN, Mark A. AITKEN
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Patent number: 11388629Abstract: The ATSC 3.0 physical layer broadcast standard is extended with new OFDM numerology, L1 signaling and frame structure aligned with 5G. This is done to enable improved broadcast mobility and convergence 5G release 16 as a Non-3GPP access network. The 5G core network and Broadcast core network interwork over defined interfaces to enable convergence layer 3. This enables improvements of broadcast physical layer for physics of broadcast. The 5G unicast physical layer is enhanced for physics of unicast, and then both are converged at layer 3. This is novel and has many benefits compared to the legacy LTE broadcast method (e.g., Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (eMBMS)), which combines both broadcast and unicast into a single shared LTE frame at layer 1. The eMBMS method is then improved for dominate unicast mode in shared L1 frame. The result is the broadcast performance and efficiency in eMBMS are less than optimal.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Simon, Mark A. Aitken
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Patent number: 11363467Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium product for sharing broadcast resources and validating usage of the broadcast resources according to an agreement between a plurality of broadcast virtual network operators (BVNOs). A method includes determining the plurality of spectrum resources corresponding to a length of a broadcast frame, and creating a plurality of physical layer pipes (PLPs) based on a plurality of internet protocol (IP) flows from the plurality of BVNOs. The method includes constructing the broadcast frame including the plurality of PLPs and generating a broadcast frame record based on transmission of the broadcast frame. The broadcast frame record can identify the plurality of spectrum resources shared between the plurality of BVNOs. The method includes updating the broadcast frame record with identification information of the plurality of BVNOs and the plurality of IP flows corresponding to the plurality of PLPs of the broadcast frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.Inventors: Michael John Simon, Mark A. Aitken, Ebenezer K. Kofi, Louis Herbert Libin
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Publication number: 20220070042Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method includes selecting a length for an advanced television system committee (ATSC) 3.0 frame for transmission by a single frequency network (SFN) transmitter and aligning the SFN transmitter with a global positioning system (GPS) epoch. The method further includes storing geographical coordinates of the SFN transmitter and a corresponding SFN transmitter identification (TX ID) in a database. The method also includes encoding the SFN TX ID in a non-coherent symbol of a plurality of positioning navigation timing (PNT) symbols comprising a plurality of coherent symbols and the non-coherent symbol with orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) numerology to support positioning. The method further includes prepending the plurality of PNT symbols to the ATSC 3.0 frame to generate a modified ATSC 3.0 frame and transmitting the modified ATSC 3.0 using a SFN transmitter antenna of the SFN transmitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. SIMON, Mark A. AITKEN, Ebenezer K. KOFI, Louis Herbert LIBIN
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Patent number: 11153056Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for generating and transmitting one or more band segmented bootstrap signals. For example, a transmitter may be configured to generate a plurality of sequence numbers and apply cyclic shift to each of the plurality of sequence number. The transmitter is further configured to map each of the shifted sequence numbers to at least one frequency domain subcarrier of a plurality of frequency domain subcarriers, and translate each subcarrier of the plurality of subcarriers to a time domain sequence. Each subcarrier of the plurality of subcarriers may be shifted with respect to other subcarriers of the plurality of subcarriers, thereby aligning each segment of the band segmented bootstrap signals next to each other in the frequency domain.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.Inventor: Michael J. Simon
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Patent number: 10971138Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect, the described techniques may include streaming a segment of primary content, for example, by a reduce capability client device, such as a mobile device or tablet. The device may receive information indicative of a break in the streaming of the primary content. The device may play secondary content based on receiving the information indicative of the break. The device may determine when a next segment of the primary content is available, and begin streaming the next segment of the primary content upon detecting that the second segment of the primary content is available.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts
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Patent number: 10951334Abstract: Systems and methods for relaying in broadcast single-frequency networks are disclosed herein. A single-frequency network can be formed in part using transmitters that receive data via a cooperative relay channel instead of a station-to-transmitter link. In some embodiments, a second channel may use a portion of its transmission time to relay the information to the single-frequency network transmitter using time-division multiplexing. In other embodiments, a second channel may encode the relayed information on a second layer using layer-division multiplexing.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.Inventors: Michael John Simon, Louis Herbert Libin
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Patent number: 10923116Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for placing secondary content into a break of unknown duration in a stream of primary content. In one aspect the described techniques may include receiving information indicative of a break in streaming of the primary content, such as metadata data that is inserted into the stream of primary content, for example, on a client device. A duration of the stream of the primary content may be obtained. Secondary content may be played, for example during a break in the streaming of the primary content. Upon detecting that the duration of the stream of the primary content has increased to a second duration, for example, in response to the client device receiving additional primary content, the primary content may be streamed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aaron Miller, Jason D. Justman, Lora Clark Bouchard, Michael Ellery Bouchard, Kevin James Cotlove, Mathew Keith Gitchell, Stacia Lynn Haisch, Jonathan David Kersten, Matthew Karl Marchio, Peter Arthur Pulliam, George Allen Smith, Todd Christopher Tibbetts