Patents Assigned to Vizio, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12555548
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling a television display in such a matter that some portion of that display is re-purposed as a light emitting device intended to provide improved video scene lighting when using a video camera associated with the television display for communications as part of video conferencing or other activities. The systems and methods of the disclosure may be activated and controlled utilizing the television's remote-control device or a paired mobile device, using manual or verbal commands from the user. This results in an overall brightening of the television display or a reduction of that portion of the screen displaying the current programming, thereby exposing remaining pixels that can be independently illuminated to a greater brightness and color tinted. This action improves the illumination of the video scene area of those subjects in front of the television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: Zeev Neumeier, W. Leo Hoarty, John Schindler
  • Publication number: 20260039902
    Abstract: An automated content recognition (ACR) system can identify media based on audio-related data. For instance, the ACR system may receive an audio cue associated with an unknown media segment. The audio cue can include a set of words derived from the unknown media segment. The ACR system can search a known media database using the set of by comparing the set of words with words associated with known media segments. The ACR system may identify a particular known media segment from the known media database that at least partially matches the set of words of the unknown media segment. In some implementations, the ACR system may execute an event in response to identifying the unknown media segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2025
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Dave Witonsky, Michael Imberman
  • Publication number: 20260038484
    Abstract: An automated content recognition system can identify media presented by a media device using an audio channel of the media. The media device may isolate an audio segment from the audio channel of the media. A speech-to-text model may be executed using the audio segment to identify a sequence of words represented by the audio segment. The media device may transmit an unknown audio including the sequence of words to an ACR server. The ACR server may compare the sequence of words of the unknown audio cue to words of reference audio cues associated with known media segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2025
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Dave Witonsky, Michael Imberman
  • Patent number: 12537991
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for detecting latency in radio frequency connections. A computing device can detect, at a first time, light using an optical sensor and receive, at a second time, a first data packet over a connection with a first wireless device. The computing device may define a first signal latency value based on the first time and the second time. The computing device may then receive a media stream that includes a video component and an audio component and modify a presentation of the media stream by delaying the video component by a time interval based on the first signal latency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Tallapaneni, Maksym Shestirko, Rammohan Somalraju, Oleksandr Blazhko, W. Leo Hoarty
  • Patent number: 12464389
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for detecting latency in radio frequency connections. A computing device may present a first cue at a first time. In response, the computing device may receive a first input from a wireless device at a second time that indicates that a control of the wireless device associated with the first cue has been activated. The computing device may define a signal latency value based on the first time and the second time. The computing device may then receive a second input from the wireless device that includes an indication of a control activation at a third time. And in response, the computing device may process the control activation if the control activation is received at a fourth time that is prior to the third time. The time interval between the fourth time and the third time can be equal to the signal latency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Tallapaneni, Maksym Shestirko, Rammohan Somalraju, Oleksandr Blazhko, W. Leo Hoarty
  • Publication number: 20250330687
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for detecting the display of media and/or specialized content using embedded watermarks. For example, a media device may receive video data including a set of video frames. The media device may detect, in at least one video frame of the set of video frames, a watermark embedded into the at least one video frame. The watermark may be usable to identify media to be displayed by the media device. The media device may display the media. The media device may then transmit an indication that the media has been presented by the media device to a destination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Reed, Kyoungsoo Moon, W. Leo Hoarty
  • Publication number: 20250317703
    Abstract: A display device may define a multivew media presentation including two or more media segments presented simultaneously. The two or more media segments may be presented in a grid pattern with a first media segment presented at a first location of the display device. The display device may receive a selection of the first media segment of the two or more media segments. In response, the display device may modify the audio component of the first media segment based on the first location of the first media segment. The modification to the audio component may cause the modified audio component to be perceived by a user as originating at the first location of the display device. The display device may then present modified audio component of the first media segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: William Wang, Craig Liebel
  • Publication number: 20250231778
    Abstract: A context-based input interface from a first interface can be presented to increase a rate and accuracy of providing input to the first interface. A computing device may receive user input via a first interface. In response, the computing device may define a context using one or more characteristics of the first input interface. The computing device may then generate a second input interface configured to execute a function that modify the first input interface. The function can be selected based on the context. The computing device may receive a selection of a particular function via the second interface and implement the function to modify the first input interface. The computing device may terminate the second interface upon executing the function and return to the first interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventor: Anirudh Lath
  • Publication number: 20250140252
    Abstract: A media device may perform contextual processing based on media segments that are presented. The media device may receive an identification of a video segment being displayed by a display device from an automated content recognition service. The media device may transmit a notification including information associated with the video segment and a request for audio input. Upon detecting one or more audio segments associated with the notification, the media device may facilitate a presentation of an object associated with the video segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Yum, William Wang
  • Patent number: 12265313
    Abstract: Video display systems comprising a video display and a camera assembly are shown and described. In one example, video cameras may be stowed in and deployed from a compartment proximate the upper surface of the display and configured to deploy in an arc-like motion and for rotation about a center of the video camera housing itself. In other examples, video cameras may be aligned with openings in the frame of the television screen and operatively connected to shutter plates that selectively admit light to or block light from the camera. In a further example, video cameras may be provided on motorized mounts that are attached to the frame to collect multiple images for video processing tasks to enhance the video image in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Baxter, Glen Gihong Kim, Zeev Neumeier
  • Publication number: 20250104178
    Abstract: A consolidated compositing block architecture is configured to generate a single graphics plane from graphical components of disparate graphical processes. The consolidated compositing block architecture intercepts a function call from a set of framebuffers to a hardware abstraction layer. The function call from each framebuffer may be associated with a graphical component to be rendered. The consolidated compositing block architecture composites the graphical component of one or more framebuffers of the set of framebuffers into a single graphics plane. The consolidated compositing block architecture then transmits the single graphics plane to the hardware abstraction layer for rendering within a display of display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Marshall, Matthew Marshall
  • Patent number: 12244959
    Abstract: An audio-visual system is shown and describe. The audio-visual system comprises a soundbar and a television monitor assembly. The television monitor assembly comprises a television monitor, a first support and a second support. The first support comprises a first base member and a first vertical member, and the second support comprises a second base member and a second vertical member. The television monitor assembly has one or more free-standing configurations in which the lengths of the first and second base members are substantially perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces of the television monitor and one or more wall-mounted configurations in which the lengths of the first and second base members are substantially parallel to the front rear surfaces of the television monitor. An audio visual system may be provided by attaching a soundbar to the first and second base members in the free-standing configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Gihong Kim, Aung Khin Soe Win
  • Patent number: 12231741
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for detecting the display of media and/or specialized content using embedded watermarks. For example, a media device may receive video data including a set of video frames. The media device may detect, in at least one video frame of the set of video frames, a watermark embedded into the at least one video frame. The watermark may be usable to identify media to be displayed by the media device. The media device may display the media. The media device may then transmit an indication that the media has been presented by the media device to a destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Reed, Kyoungsoo Moon, W. Leo Hoarty
  • Publication number: 20250039520
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting a content type of content within a media stream. A computing device may receive a media stream and define a set of media segments that each represent a portion of the media stream. The computing device may identify a first media segment that includes a first boundary and a second media segment that includes a second boundary. The computing device may predict whether the subset of media segments that are positioned between the first media segment and the second media segment include content of a particular content type. The computing device may then transmit an indication of the prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventor: Kiran Sanjeevan Cabeza
  • Patent number: 12132972
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting a content type of content within a media stream. A computing device may receive a media stream and define a set of media segments that each represent a portion of the media stream. The computing device may identify a first media segment that includes a first boundary and a second media segment that includes a second boundary. The computing device may predict whether the subset of media segments that are positioned between the first media segment and the second media segment include content of a particular content type. The computing device may then transmit an indication of the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventor: Kiran Sanjeevan Cabeza
  • Patent number: 12126661
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating video watch parties are shown and described. Video and audio data indicative of the content being displayed on a plurality of smart TVs is compared to stored data in a content recognition database to determine what content is being viewed by each of a plurality of viewers at a given time. Viewers watching the same content are invited to become members of a watch party, and the televisions of those who accept the invitation are operatively connected to one another in a peer-to-peer network, enabling them to view the watch party content on a watch party screen that displays the watch party content and images or graphical icon representations of each other member of the watch party who is watching the content. Watch party participants can communicate with one another on the watch party display orally, using text messages in a text message area of the display, or by projecting emojis in the content region of other participants' displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: William Wang, W. Leo Hoarty
  • Patent number: 12105916
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a virtual keyboard are shown and described. User gestures are captured by a camera and are mapped to spatial coordinates that correspond to the keys of a virtual keyboard. The user defines the coordinate system based on his or her range of motion and also defines the spatial dimensions of the virtual keyboard. The spatial dimensions are then scaled to provide a display image of the virtual keyboard on a TV display. Facial recognition techniques and corresponding data regarding the viewer's anatomy and previously captured reference gestures are used to interpret the viewer's gestures and determine which keystrokes are intended. A character prediction technique using the trajectory of the cursor (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiran Sanjeevan Cabeza
  • Patent number: 12089014
    Abstract: A remote control with a microphone subsystem comprising a pair of internal microphones is shown and described. When connected to a remote-control base station that is itself connected to an external power source, the microphone subsystem is continuously energized by the external power source, and the pair of internal microphones operate as far field microphones that receive oral commands uttered by a user from a distance. When the remote control is removed from the base, the microphone subsystem is configured for selective connection to an internal power source by actuating a user control on the remote control. In the external power source mode, signals from both microphones are digitally processed to provide a far-field microphone array with beam forming. In the direct current mode, only one microphone's signals are digitally processed as a simple monaural signal (or they are not digitally processed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Leo Hoarty, Glen Gihong Kim
  • Patent number: 12067384
    Abstract: Systems and methods for updating firmware in an audio device, such as a soundbar, operatively connected to a Smart TV, are shown and described. Firmware update data is transmitted to the audio device via an audio return channel (ARC) of an HDMI cable. In certain of the systems, the firmware update data is transmitted to the audio device when no audio is being transmitted to or played by the audio device. In other systems, the firmware update data and real-time audio data are multiplexed by the Smart TV and are sent to the audio device via the audio return channel for subsequent demultiplexing and playback of the audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Leo Hoarty
  • Publication number: 20240276054
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for detecting latency in radio frequency connections. A computing device can detect, at a first time, light using an optical sensor and receive, at a second time, a first data packet over a connection with a first wireless device. The computing device may define a first signal latency value based on the first time and the second time. The computing device may then receive a media stream that includes a video component and an audio component and modify a presentation of the media stream by delaying the video component by a time interval based on the first signal latency value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: VIZIO, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Tallapaneni, Maksym Shestirko, Rammohan Somalraju, Oleksandr Blazhko, W. Leo Hoarty