Patents Examined by Aklil M Tesfaye
  • Patent number: 10237629
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a channel classification method and device. The method comprising: receiving preset channel tags and content information of channels; the content information includes program contents that individual channels broadcast in periods of time or program content tags corresponding to included non-live contents; classifying the current individual channels according to the channel tags and generating first classification items; determining a program content tag corresponding to the program content or the non-live content that is currently being broadcasted, respectively, according to the program content or the non-live content that is currently being broadcasted by the channels; and classifying the channels according to the program content tag corresponding to the program content or the non-live content that is currently being broadcasted and generating second classification items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: STARTIMES COMMUNICATION NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiangtao Wen, Yi Pang, Liang Zhang, Hongwei Yao
  • Patent number: 10212478
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for transmitting broadcast signals. The method for transmitting broadcast signals, according to the present invention, proposes a system which can support next-generation broadcast service in an environment which supports next-generation hybrid broadcast which uses terrestrial broadcast networks and the Internet. In addition, the present invention proposes an efficient signaling method, which can embrace terrestrial broadcast networks and the Internet, in an environment which supports next-generation hybrid broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Minsung Kwak, Jangwon Lee, Woosuk Ko, Sungryong Hong
  • Patent number: 10205988
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for presenting, when there are multiple users at a media device, content that is associated with a user, of the multiple users, with the highest priority level, and upon detecting that only one user is left at the media device, automatically resuming content that the one user was previously consuming. For example, media guidance application may track playback positions in content A and B that users A and B are respectively consuming at different locations. Upon user A joining, while user B is still consuming content B, user B at location B, media guidance application may determine that user B has higher priority level than user A and accordingly, continue playing content B. When the media guidance application detects that user B, but not user A, has left location B, the media guidance application may automatically present content A from a point where the user A left off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Alan Waterman, Richard William Matthews
  • Patent number: 10200650
    Abstract: The plug-in television provided by this invention integrates the master control module of the television into a plug card and separately configures the plug card and the display, and the display is mainly used to play and control the audio and video data, and the plug card is mainly used to receive and process the audio and video data; since the plug card and the display are separately configured in physical structure, it allows users to carry out the operations like repairing, maintenance, upgrading and replacement on them separately; moreover, since the display is the main structure of the television, and the plug card is plugged into the slot provided on the display to form the television, the problem in the current television field that the upgrading speed of the screen terminal device is exceedingly unmatched with the upgrading speed of the master control device is effectively solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AMLOGIC (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John Zhong, Mike Yip, Kevin Chen, Robin Zhu
  • Patent number: 10187670
    Abstract: A method and system for datacasting and content management. Such a system may have, as its core, a dashboard system for managing data feeds. A dashboard system may receive data feeds from one or more associated devices, such as the hardware devices of first responders or other public safety officers, and may aggregate and prioritize them. The dashboard system may then manage, prioritize and encrypt the video, files and other data in preparation for broadcast over the television or satellite transmitter, via, for example, a television broadcasting station, and may then broadcast the video, files, or other data to a plurality of users. Alerts and notifications may be created, files attached and links to video streams distributed over this same broadcast network. The broadcasting system may be able to send multiple streams of content simultaneously, may be able to target specific users to be broadcast to, and may be able to incorporate data from public data sources, such as public security cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SpectraRep, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Buono, Mark O'Brien, Rodney G. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10187674
    Abstract: Techniques are described for promoting original media titles. Given metadata tags associated with the original title and other media titles, a tag data matrix is generated and factored into two matrices, one of which includes vectors representing the media titles in a first latent space. Similarity scores are computed between a vector representing the original title and each of the other media title vectors to determine a set of media titles most similar to the original title. Then, a play data matrix is factorized, and an average of vectors representing the most similar titles in a second latent space is taken to be a vector representation of the original title in the second latent space. This representation is compared with representations of users in the second latent space to generate similarity scores, and the original title is then promoted to users associated with the highest similarity scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NETFLIX, INC.
    Inventor: Harald Steck
  • Patent number: 10148987
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to correlate census measurement data with panel data. An example method includes accessing a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information. The example method also includes determining locations of a plurality of panelist homes and comparing the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the panelist homes. When the geographic location of the requesting device is within a threshold distance of a first one of the panelist homes, identifying a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first panelist home, and associating the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 10116994
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a supervisor such as a parent or guardian with a way to monitor and control the delivery of content, e.g., video and audio programs, to users of devices within a home. Exemplary embodiments include methods and apparatus for operating a home network monitoring device located in a home including detecting delivery of content to one or more users in the home, storing, in the home, portions of content delivered to a first user, presenting some of the stored portions of content to a person responsible for setting content restrictions applicable to the first user, and subjecting further content delivery to the first user via the home network to restrictions established by the person responsible for setting content restrictions applicable to the first user. Some embodiments also detect and report potential attacks, e.g., cyber attacks, on the home network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Niem Dang, John Chen, David W Chen
  • Patent number: 10116995
    Abstract: A system and method are provided that allow the presentation of content to multiple users while some or all of the users communicate with one another through a network. In some embodiments, a content item such as a movie is viewed synchronously by multiple users while the users interact through, e.g., instant messaging. A viewing event may be arranged with users receiving invitations, responding to the invitations, and receiving reminders about the viewing event. The viewing event allows for contests to be conducted between the users. The users may be charged fees to participate in the viewing event. Items for sale may be offered to the users, such as a copy of the content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Don Charles Eklund, Ben Feingold
  • Patent number: 10097898
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for displaying recommendations that are temporally relevant to activities of a user and are contextually relevant to a portion of viewed media. This may be accomplished by a media guidance application identifying activities a user has planned, as well as respective times for which each of the plurality of activities was planned to be performed by the user. The media guidance application may filter the activities by determining which of the first plurality of activities has a corresponding respective time that is within a threshold period of time. The media guidance application may then identify characteristics of each filtered activity and of a media asset that the user is consuming at the present moment, and may compute whether the characteristics match. If the characteristics match, the media guidance application may generate for display a recommendation relating to the respective activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Keith James
  • Patent number: 10075739
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an information release method, apparatus, and system, and relates to the field of Internet technologies. The method includes: receiving, by a server, a release request sent by a first terminal that is playing a live video, where the release request carries audio information; determining, by the server, at least one second terminal that is currently playing the live video; and sending, by the server, a release notification that carries the audio information to the second terminal. The present disclosure can reduce an impact on acquisition of information in a live video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hongtao Zuo
  • Patent number: 10075746
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, William L. Thomas, Thomas R. Lemmons
  • Patent number: 10045087
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing parental control support in video mosaic environment are disclosed. Upon receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data, which may include parental control information, is received. The screen data may identify the video assets in the video mosaic page. A determination is made whether the video assets in the video mosaic page are locked or unlocked by parental controls in force on the user equipment. Locked assets may be masked and individually unlocked upon verification of a parental control access code or PIN. Unlocked assets may be presented in cells, or windows, in the video mosaic page and may also be individually locked and subsequently masked. A separate set of parental control settings may be maintained for video mosaic pages or the mosaic parental control commands may be resolved with system parental control settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Jon P. Radloff, Charles D. White
  • Patent number: 10045094
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a content supply device, a content supply method, a program, a terminal device, and a content supply system in which the reception side that acquires a FLUTE session can be notified of the reception mode. A content supply device according to the present disclosure includes: a fragment stream generating portion that generates a fragment stream on the basis of source data of content; a FLUTE-stream generating portion that generates a FLUTE stream from the generated fragment stream; an SDP creation portion that creates an SDP including a reception mode in the case of a reception side receiving a FLUTE session including the FLUTE stream; and a multicast delivery portion that delivers the FLUTE stream over FLUTE multicast and, prior to delivery of the FLUTE stream over FLUTE multicast, delivers the SDP over FLUTE multicast. The present disclosure can be applied to a system that delivers content over FLUTE multicast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventor: Yasuaki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10027998
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, William L. Thomas, Thomas R. Lemmons
  • Patent number: 10028003
    Abstract: An advertisement scheduler in the television advertisement scheduling system receives a commercial break schedule generated from a completed assignment of one or more spots that correspond to the deals comprising advertisers orders to place the one or more spots into one or more commercial breaks in the commercial break schedule based on constraints and placement requirements. The advertisement scheduler may determine representative liability per pending spot for one or more of the deals, and reshuffle the placement of the one or more spots based on the representative liability of the one or more deals in order to minimize liability associated with the one or more deals. The advertisement scheduler may reshuffle the placement of the one or more spots based on a forecast of expected viewership associated with the one or more deals, and generate a finalized commercial break schedule based on the reshuffling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Wassim Samir Chaar, David James Benoit
  • Patent number: 10009638
    Abstract: A video or multimedia distribution system receives multiple video streams and transcodes them into a single stream of UDP packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream. The UDP packets are routed to a plurality of Access Points (APs) for transmission. A User Equipment (UE) communicates with the APs and selects one or more of the video streams for viewing on the UE by selecting the port number corresponding to the desired video streams. The UE can “change channels” to view other video streams by changing the port number to the port number of the desired video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mobilitie, LLC
    Inventors: Gary B. Jabara, Lloyd Frederick Linder, David Brett Simon
  • Patent number: 9986268
    Abstract: A video or multimedia distribution system receives multiple video streams and transcodes them into a single stream of UDP packets with each of the plurality of video data packets for respective ones of the video streams being assigned a port number corresponding to the respective video stream. The UDP packets are routed to a plurality of Access Points (APs) for transmission. A User Equipment (UE) communicates with the APs and selects one or more of the video streams for viewing on the UE by selecting the port number corresponding to the desired video streams. The UE can “change channels” to view other video streams by changing the port number to the port number of the desired video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Mobilitie, LLC
    Inventors: Gary B. Jabara, Lloyd Frederick Linder, David Brett Simon
  • Patent number: 9973799
    Abstract: A system and method for streaming a Video on Demand (VOD) asset includes receiving, at a host, a VOD asset request from a client over an internal network, and sending the VOD asset request from the host over an external network using a client/host address that includes a host address and a client address. The VOD asset targeted for the client including the client/host address is received at the host over the external network, and the VOD asset is streamed from the host to the client over the internal network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Mediacom Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 9967621
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which personalization data is used to select and order video highlight clips for a personalized highlight reel that a user may play to view, such as part of a narrative arranged for that user. The narrative may include introductory content, transition content and/or ending content. The narrative may include advertising content and/or ending content. The narrative may be rearranged in response to an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor C. Armstrong, David J. Jurenka, Jeanie Michelle DuMont, Michael L. Christian, Todd Gordon Stevens, Vernon W. Hui, Ashish Gupta, David W. Stevens, Adam Lee Potratz, Langdon Ward Beeck