Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for the dynamic creation and presentation of user-specified VOD content consisting of multiple VOD clips as a passive viewing experience. For one embodiment, a user selects a set of VOD clips from a list or other selection presentation and the selected VOD clips are presented back-to-back. For one embodiment of the invention, the user may reorder the presentation sequence of the selected VOD clips. Embodiments of the invention thereby allow a user to dynamically create and present a user-specific, passive viewing presentation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 3, 2003
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2017
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
John Carney, Greg Thomson, David de Andrade, Matt Marenghi, Samuel Moreau, Elliot Poger
Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 14, 2017
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
Abstract: A comprehensive mechanism is provided for broadcasting and accessing multiple audio sources in connection with the viewing of a television program. Audio is collected through the use of standard audio capture techniques. Next, the audio is distributed by either of in-band via broadcast or out-of-band techniques. In-band audio is preferably provided via an MPEG stream associated with the current television program. Out-of-band (OOB) audio can be broadcast as well, although it is preferable to select which channel is distributed upstream first, rather than broadcast all channels downstream and consume bandwidth for unselected audio. The viewer operates a set top box to select the appropriate audio channel(s) for reproduction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
TVWORKS, LLC
Inventors:
Craig Howard Seidel, Coleman Dale Sisson, Jr.
Abstract: Preferred placement of programming content is provided by a system and method to organize or sequence the display of a set of programmable content elements of an iTV application to a viewer, using business rules that describe the preferred placement conditions or criteria. Such criteria include brand, content owner, application location, current channel, current channel family, current channel category, time of day, content category, current program, current program genre, current iTV application, current content type, and/or subscriber and set-top box profile and behavior data. In one implementation, the present invention allows for managing the ‘shelf space’ within and for iTV applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 16, 2014
Date of Patent:
December 6, 2016
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
David De Andrade, John Carney, Samuel Moreau, Tyson Singer, Srikanth Ganapavarapu
Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 16, 2015
Date of Patent:
September 20, 2016
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
Abstract: A method, system API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file.
Abstract: A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints.
Abstract: A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 2015
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2016
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Samuel Moreau, Donald Ahrens, Georgia Gibbs, John Carney, David De Andrade
Abstract: A quota management system for Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) in which the storage space available on connected storage devices is shared between multiple content providers or multiple software programs.
Abstract: Controlling the admission of interactive television iTV applications to an iTV application distribution system is accomplished through the use of iTV application profiles that enumerate sets of allowed functions and behaviors for the iTV applications within the distribution system. In general, the profiles comprise filters that enable various functions within the distribution system, and may be applied to the iTV applications according to any of a number of bases. The distribution system includes an interface or console adapted to permit a system operator to create the application profiles and establish rules for attaching the profiles to the iTV applications, and an application profile engine configured to automatically validate the iTV applications against the profiles according to those rules.
Abstract: A unique TIO based trust information delivery scheme is disclosed that allows clients to verify received certificates and to control Java and Javascript access efficiently. This scheme fits into the certificate verification process in SSL to provide a secure connection between a client and a Web server. In particular, the scheme is well suited for incorporation into consumer devices that have a limited footprint, such as set-top boxes, cell phones, and handheld computers. Furthermore, the TIO update scheme disclosed herein allows clients to update certificates securely and dynamically.
Abstract: A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2014
Date of Patent:
November 24, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Lena Chane, Samuel Moreau, Darrell Haber, Matt Marenghi
Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 27, 2013
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark A. Vickers
Abstract: A method of sharing recording capability on a network, the network having a server supporting at least a recording DVR and a receiving DVR, the recording and receiving DVRs being in different households, the method comprising: (a) determining that the receiving DVR is unable to record the content at a certain time; and (b) identifying that the recording DVR is able to provide the receiving DVR with a recording of the content; (c) recording the content on the recording DVR at the certain time; and (d) transmitting the content from the recording DVR to the receiving DVR after the certain time.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
James Matthew Hindle, Jeffrey Ronald Wannamaker
Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 9, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
Abstract: A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 28, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Samuel Moreau, Donald Ahrens, Georgia Gibbs, John Carney, David de Andrade
Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 28, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 24, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
Abstract: A method for customizing metadata in a content delivery network, said method comprising: (a) storing customized metadata for a program, said customized metadata being inputted by a user; (b) modifying default metadata with said customized metadata and providing said modified metadata to said EPG; and (c) displaying program information based on said modified metadata.
Abstract: Preferred placement of programming content is provided by a system and method to organize or sequence the display of a set of programmable content elements of an iTV application to a viewer, using business rules that describe the preferred placement conditions or criteria. Such criteria include brand, content owner, application location, current channel, current channel family, current channel category, time of day, content category, current program, current program genre, current iTV application, current content type, and/or subscriber and set-top box profile and behavior data. In one implementation, the present invention allows for managing the ‘shelf space’ within and for iTV applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2012
Date of Patent:
January 27, 2015
Assignee:
TVWorks, LLC
Inventors:
David de Andrade, John Carney, Samuel Moreau, Tyson Singer, Srikanth Ganapavarapu
Abstract: A unique TIO based trust information delivery scheme is disclosed that allows clients to verify received certificates and to control Java and Javascript access efficiently. This scheme fits into the certificate verification process in SSL to provide a secure connection between a client and a Web server. In particular, the scheme is well suited for incorporation into consumer devices that have a limited footprint, such as set-top boxes, cell phones, and handheld computers. Furthermore, the TIO update scheme disclosed herein allows clients to update certificates securely and dynamically.