Patents Assigned to The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10694251
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for preventing inadvertent viewing of media content for a media program. A processor can detect an inadvertent viewing condition including exposing content for a media program including audio content and video content. The processor can create an alert that indicates the inadvertent viewing condition exists and that includes selectable options for actions to take for the inadvertent viewing condition. The processor can provide the alert to a video display and can further block output of the audio content and the video content to the video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Edward Depies, Jonathan Andrew Thompson
  • Patent number: 10685562
    Abstract: A system and method includes a mobile device having a mobile device identifier associated therewith and an in-vehicle infotainment system. The mobile device communicates the mobile device identifier to the in-vehicle infotainment system. A user device is controllable by inputs from a user though a user interface display associated with the user interface. A global positioning system generates a vehicle position signal at the vehicle. The user device is separate from the in-vehicle infotainment system and the global positioning system. The in-vehicle infotainment system communicates the vehicle position signal corresponding to a current vehicle position and the mobile device identifier to the user device. The user device is associated with a display displaying a map display comprising a map with a representation of the vehicle at the current vehicle position and the mobile device identifier of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Stephen H. Chu, Bhavyank V. Shah
  • Patent number: 10674176
    Abstract: A system and method for compressing video is disclosed, in which video frames that are only between consecutive I-frames are grouped into a video data set. The video data set is split into separate homogeneous files, and each of the homogeneous files are individually compressed. In one embodiment, the individually compressed files are multiplexed to form a bit stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Banerji, Kumar Swaminathan
  • Publication number: 20200169507
    Abstract: A gateway device includes a first communication system, a second communication system and a network processor. The first communication system and the network processor communicate first network signals therebetween. The first network signals comprising first higher priority network signals and first lower priority network signals. The second communicate system and the network processor communicating second network signals therebetween. The second network signals comprising second higher priority network signals and second lower priority network signals. The network processor communicates a first congestion notification request signal to the first communication system. The first communication system modifies the first lower priority network signals at the first communication system in response to the first congestion notification signal to form first modified network signals and communicates the first modified network signals from the gateway device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. MATHEWS, Henry DEROVANESSIAN
  • Patent number: 10667008
    Abstract: A system and method comprises a head end performing a search using a search term and communicates a search result. The head end determines availability of the search result and when the search result is unavailable, communicates a notification function selector to a user device. The user device displays the search result and the notification function selector on a screen display. The user device generates a notification selector signal in response to a notification selector selection. The notification selector signal corresponds to the search or search result. The user device communicates the notification selector signal to a notification system. The notification system forms a notification query in response to the notification selector signal and monitors guide data at the notification system for content corresponding to the search or search result and communicates a notification signal to the user device in response to monitoring guide data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Brady C. Tsurutani, Earl J. Bonovich
  • Publication number: 20200159393
    Abstract: A method and system for bookmarking content has a controller is programmed to establish bookmark list in a memory of an electronic device, store content metadata in the memory of the electronic device to form stored data, the content metadata comprising content identifiers and other metadata, bookmark a first content entry corresponding to a first content from list on a display associated with the electronic device and, in response to bookmarking the first content entry from the display, delete the plurality of the content metadata corresponding to the first content except for a first content identifier of the content metadata corresponding to the first content comprising only an alphabetic or numeric identifier or both in the bookmark list, said bookmark list comprising the content identifiers and the first content identifier wherein a total number of content identifiers is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Yeung Chan, Earl James Bonovich, Romulo Pontual
  • Publication number: 20200162780
    Abstract: A system and method for audibly displaying an audio signal at an in-vehicle infotainment system received through a mobile device to provide continual access to the content when the user enters a vehicle includes the mobile device comprising a first audio player and a second audio player. The mobile device receives an audio-video signal through a network. The first audio player playing a first audio signal. The mobile device receives a second signal. The second audio player receives a second audio signal based on the second signal and playing the second audio signal. The mobile device communicates the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system. The in-vehicle infotainment system audibly displays the first audio signal and the second audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. CANSINO, Bhavyank V. SHAH, Brady C. TSURUTANI, Yeung CHAN
  • Patent number: 10657406
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for exporting text captured from a video program presented on a display screen using optical character recognition to an alternate destination are disclosed. For example, a processor may present a video program via a display screen, receive, from a control device associated with the display screen, a request to capture text from the video program, and identify text from a frame of the video program via optical character recognition. When the text from the frame is identified via optical character recognition, the processor may present, via the display screen, the text in a selectable format, receive, from the control device, a selection of at least a portion of the text that is presented in the selectable format, and send the at least the portion of the text to an alternate destination in accordance with the selection of the at least the portion of the text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiten Engineer
  • Patent number: 10652114
    Abstract: A system includes a monitoring module comprising a real time monitor, a database and an analytical engine. A gateway device is in communication with the monitoring module. The gateway device includes a processor communicating current data to the monitoring module through a connection. The real time monitor stores current data in a database. The database also comprises past data and the current data. The real time monitor notifies the analytical engine when storing the current data. The analytical engine generates a screen display comprising past data and current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin M. Mathews
  • Publication number: 20200142661
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an in-vehicle infotainment system to control content in using a primary display includes a mobile device and the in-vehicle infotainment system in communication with the mobile device. The in-vehicle infotainment system comprises the primary display and a first secondary display. The in-vehicle infotainment system receives a first content selection signal for a first content. The first secondary display displays the first content in response to the first content selection signal. The primary display displays a content identifier corresponding to the first content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. CANSINO, Stephen H. CHU, Bhavyank V. SHAH, Viswanadha KOVVURU, Kenneth H. LEE, Ricardo Mancinas LOPEZ, Edgar CAMACHO
  • Patent number: 10630972
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for testing and determining outages of communication systems. A server can receive signal-reception-related information from set-top boxes (STBs) in a particular geographical region, where a STB: receives signals having a predefined pattern, generates a comparison of the predefined pattern to reference patterns stored on the STB, generates the signal-reception-related information based on the comparison, and sends the signal-reception-related information. The server can determine an outage status for the particular geographical region based on the signal-reception-related information. The server can generate an output based on the outage status. The output is configured to provide information related to the outage status of the particular geographical region and information for possible responses related to the outage status. The server can send the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kian-Vine Chin, Woei-Shyang Yee, Wesley W. Huie, Gerard V. Talatinian, Christopher Yang, Heesoon E. Kim, Robert S. Greenwade
  • Patent number: 10623820
    Abstract: A channel order mapping is stored in memory of a user device and includes a list of channels that can be displayed on the display and an order that the channels are to be displayed in an electronic program guide (EPG) on the display. A display control module, in response to a first user input to display the EPG, displays on the display the EPG. This EPG includes: the channels in the order indicated in the channel order mapping. An order updating module, in response to user input to change the order, changes the order stored the channel order mapping according to changes commanded by a user of the user device. In response to a second user input to display the EPG received after the updating, the display control module displays on the display the EPG including: the channels in the updated order indicated in the channel order mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Randall M. Desmond
  • Patent number: 10609453
    Abstract: Customized recommendations of multimedia content streams are provided herein. A method can include facilitating, by a network device of a wireless network and comprising a processor, an output of a recommendation of a first multimedia content stream at a communications device based on a monitored interaction determined to have been performed by an identified entity at the communications device. The method can also include facilitating, by the network device, a first transmission of the first multimedia content stream to the communications device in response to an acceptance of the recommendation of the first multimedia content stream received from the communications device. The first multimedia content stream can be renderable for consumption at the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Greenstein, Percival Pacifico, Jason Payabyab, Kue Xiong
  • Patent number: 10601946
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for pre-loading video chunks of a video program at an edge server are disclosed. For example, a processor may receive a manifest file for a video program, determine a bitrate for a first segment of the video program, request a video chunk of the first segment at the first bitrate from an edge server in accordance with the manifest file, and request a subset of a video chunk of a second segment of the video program from the edge server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Arsenault, Denny Lai, Thai Lam, Michael A Makhijani
  • Patent number: 10585568
    Abstract: A mobile device and a system for operating the same include a display displaying a list of entries comprising a plurality of content data. Each of the plurality of content data is associated with a content identifier. The mobile device further includes a controller selecting the first content entry and storing a first content identifier corresponding first content entry in a bookmark list within the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Don E. Cansino, Yeung K. Chan, Earl J. Bonovich
  • Patent number: 10575147
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a mobile device at a headend includes the mobile device communicating a request for content to the headend. The headend requests geographic coordinate location data from the mobile device and, when geographic coordinate data is available, determines a first geographic region associated with the mobile device in response to the geographic coordinate location data. When geographic coordinate data is not available from the mobile device, the headend extracts an IP address from the request and determines a second geographic region based on the IP address and a confidence level. When the confidence level is below a threshold, the headend determines a third geographic region based on subscriber data for the mobile device. The headend controls the mobile device in response to one of the first geographic region, the second geographic region and the third geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Pankaj Sharma, Brady C. Tsurutani, Yeung Chan, Mark A. Shurgot, Dien Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10554561
    Abstract: A gateway device includes a first communication system, a second communication system and a network processor. The first communication system and the network processor communicate first network signals therebetween. The first network signals comprising first higher priority network signals and first lower priority network signals. The second communicate system and the network processor communicating second network signals therebetween. The second network signals comprising second higher priority network signals and second lower priority network signals. The network processor communicates a first congestion notification request signal to the first communication system. The first communication system modifies the first lower priority network signals at the first communication system in response to the first congestion notification signal to form first modified network signals and communicates the first modified network signals from the gateway device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. Mathews, Henry Derovanessian
  • Patent number: 10555026
    Abstract: A system and method for audibly displaying an audio signal at an in-vehicle infotainment system received through a mobile device to provide continual access to the content when the user enters a vehicle includes the mobile device comprising a first audio player and a second audio player. The mobile device receives an audio-video signal through a network. The first audio player playing a first audio signal. The mobile device receives a second signal. The second audio player receives a second audio signal based on the second signal and playing the second audio signal. The mobile device communicates the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the in-vehicle infotainment system. The in-vehicle infotainment system audibly displays the first audio signal and the second audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Bhavyank V. Shah, Brady C. Tsurutani, Yeung K. Chan
  • Publication number: 20200020167
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) system including a head mounted display (HMD), a sensor or input device, and options, selection, and display modules. The HMD displays a VR environment including sports content of a live game, a prerecorded game, or a sports channel. The options module generates an options signal to show viewing options in the VR environment. The viewing options define viewing aspects for viewing the sports content within the VR environment. The sensor or input device generates signals based on detection of movement of the HMD, movement of an eyeball of a user, user voice communication, or user contact with the input device. The selection module, based on the signals: selects the sports content and a viewing option; and generates a selection signal. The display module displays the sports content in the VR environment based on the selection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DEPIES, Vikash SHARMA, Aaron L. GOLDSTEIN, Charles BEESON
  • Patent number: 10528314
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an in-vehicle infotainment system to control content in using a primary display includes a mobile device and the in-vehicle infotainment system in communication with the mobile device. The in-vehicle infotainment system comprises the primary display and a first secondary display. The in-vehicle infotainment system receives a first content selection signal for a first content. The first secondary display displays the first content in response to the first content selection signal. The primary display displays a content identifier corresponding to the first content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Stephen H. Chu, Bhavyank V. Shah, Viswanadha Raju Kovvuru, Kenneth H. Lee, Ricardo Mancinas Lopez, Edgar C. Camacho