Patents Examined by Justin E. Shepard
  • Patent number: 10440422
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed at apparatus, systems and methods generally related to satellite, cable or other television receiver/DVR video systems for structuring a centralized content-processing device and/or its associated EPG in facilitating delivery and recording of audiovisual content when the centralized content-processing device is associated with multiple remote content-processing devices. In one implementation, a centralized content-processing device may create device-specific folders for the centralized content-processing device and one or more remote devices. The device-specific folders may, for example, include information for one or more programming events associated with content (e.g., TV shows, sports, movies, music, documentaries). In some embodiments, the device-specific folders for the remote content-processing devices are logically separated from one another in a manner such that a remote device is restricted access to the device-specific folder for the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: DISH NETWORK, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Max Stephen Gratton, Mark Templeman, Danny Jean Minnick
  • Patent number: 10440433
    Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian Amento, Christopher Harrison, Larry Stead
  • Patent number: 10425462
    Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. A first plurality of packets including audiovisual information may be generated. A second plurality of packets including error correction coding information for the audiovisual information may be generated. Control information for associating the error correction coding information with the audiovisual information may be generated, and a third plurality of packets including the control information may also be generated. The plurality of packets, including the first, second, and third pluralities of packets, may be transmitted to a mobile device in a wireless manner. The control information may inform the mobile device of the association of the first error correction coding information with the audiovisual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Coherent Logix Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin A. Shelby, Peter J. Nysen, Michael B. Doerr
  • Patent number: 10425688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reception device that can select an optimal component. The reception device includes a first reception unit that receives a video or audio component transmitted on a broadcast wave, a second reception unit that receives a video or audio component distributed via a network, and a control unit that controls the operation of each unit. The control unit selects the optimal video or audio component from a plurality of video and audio components that the reception device can receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventors: Naohisa Kitazato, Yasuaki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10412433
    Abstract: A method and system of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a STB provisioning system are provided which include storing STB profile information in a provisioning datastore, receiving a customer order at a service provisioning system, notifying a billing system of the customer order, and notifying a conditional access system of the customer order. The method and system further include storing information from the customer order in a provisioning datastore, notifying a video device manager about the STB, and delivering a cable operator configuration message from the video device manager to the STB, the configuration message being based on information from the provisioning datastore, thereby provisioning the STB without essential involvement of the conditional access system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Taylor, Richard Woundy
  • Patent number: 10395277
    Abstract: A processing device and method are disclosed to manage content of a content feed is disclosed. The method can include receiving, from a client device, an overlay request for an overlay content. The method can also include select a first overlay content from a plurality of overlay contents. The method can further include determining when an amount remaining in a monetary budget, associated with the overlay request, exceeds a threshold monetary budget. The method can further include determining when a number of times the overlay content has been displayed does not exceed a threshold number of times. The method can further include retrieving, from an overlay database, the first overlay content. The method can further include delivering, to the client device, the first overlay content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides
  • Patent number: 10397647
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a media processor identifies a first key and a second key associated with media content received over a network, and prepares a display object according to the first key that includes a selectable object. The media processor transmits a request to a remote server including the second key; the server returns first additional content and control code associated with the second key. The media processor merges the first additional content with the display object to produce an overlay for presentation with the media content in accordance with the control code. The overlay is associated with a provider of the first additional content; the first key is independent of the provider, and the second key corresponds to the provider. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Di Bernardo, Anthony Bonvolanta
  • Patent number: 10397666
    Abstract: A method is described for determining a region-of-interest (ROI) for a client device on the basis of at least one HEVC-tiled (panorama) video stream wherein the method comprises: receiving a ROI video stream for rendering a first ROI defining a first sub-region within the full image region of said HEVC-tiled video stream, the positions of HEVC tiles in said HEVC-tiled panorama video being defined by tile position information; providing ROI position information associated with at least one video frame of said ROI video stream, said ROI position information comprising at least first position of said first ROI; identifying one or more HEVC tiles of said HEVC-tiled video stream on the basis of said ROI position information and said tile position information, preferably one or more HEVC tiles that overlap with said first ROI; and, requesting video data associated with said one or more identified HEVC tiles for rendering a second ROI defining a second sub-region within the full image region of said HEVC-tiled video
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke KPN N.V.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Thomas, Ray Van Brandenburg, Mattijs Oskar Van Deventer
  • Patent number: 10375340
    Abstract: Techniques for providing instruction to devices in the network are provided. For example, based at least in part on the list of currently active devices and the command, a controller can determine a sequence of IR signals associated with at least one currently active device and transmit, utilizing an IR transmitter incorporated with the controller, the sequence of IR signals to one or more of the currently active devices. In another example, an audio command and location information can be received and used to determine where a controller should transmit an IR signal that corresponds with the audio command, based at least in part on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10349090
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processing system and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can include obtaining a plurality of live streams at a broadband connection to the processing system; providing an interface to facilitate input via a control device communicating with the processing system; presenting, responsive to a first user input, the live streams simultaneously at a display device; and identifying, responsive to a second user input, a set of favorite streams. The operations can also include presenting a program guide at the display device. The program guide can include a plurality of program guide objects; each of the set of favorite streams can include a separate program guide object that accordingly is selectable, via user input to the program guide, for presentation at the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Eileen Mateik, Steven Allstead, Jr., Cory Max Bernhardt, Michael Habif
  • Patent number: 10341697
    Abstract: A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Gordon
  • Patent number: 10313035
    Abstract: Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Conviva Inc.
    Inventors: Ningning Hu, John W. Heffner, Mei-Hsuan Lu, Aditya Ravikumar Ganjam, Ion Stoica
  • Patent number: 10311713
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for securing property are presented. Video content viewed by a user may be detected, and the user may be automatically prompted to change settings on a security system based on the detecting. A comparison of the current time with the duration of the video content may serve as the basis for such prompting. Additionally, a premise security system may be placed in a learning mode. Changes in position of a security sensor may be detected and used to set a permitted range of motion for the sensor. Further, a plurality of security sensor profiles may be stored, and each profile may identify a different predefined permitted range of motion of a sensor. The addition of a new sensor to a premise may be detected, and a user may be prompted, on a display, to identify a profile to be used for the new sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Poder, Mike Cook
  • Patent number: 10313734
    Abstract: Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Conviva Inc.
    Inventors: Ningning Hu, John W. Heffner, Mei-Hsuan Lu, Aditya Ravikumar Ganjam, Ion Stoica
  • Patent number: 10306290
    Abstract: A standardized hot-pluggable transceiving unit implementing bandwidth optimization functionalities. The transceiving unit comprises a first connector receiving a signal comprising a source video payload. The transceiving unit comprises a processing unit performing a scaling of the source video payload. The scaling consists in generating a scaled video payload by applying a scaling ratio to the source video payload. The transceiving unit comprises a second connector outputting an IP flow transporting the scaled video payload. In an alternative bandwidth optimization implementation, the first connector receives a plurality of source IP flows each transporting a source video payload. The processing unit selects one among the plurality of source IP flows, and generates outbound IP packets of an outbound IP flow based on stored characteristics of the outbound IP flow. The outbound IP packets transporting the source video payload of the selected source IP flow are outputted by the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Embrionix Design Inc.
    Inventors: Renaud Lavoie, Eric Dudemaine, Louis Caron
  • Patent number: 10291963
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Mark Desmond
  • Patent number: 10291941
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device including a processing system that receives items of media content; delivers the items over a network according to a schedule determined by a content delivery scheduling system; detects a level of broadcast network capacity utilization; and periodically generates and transmits to the scheduling system a forecast of network capacity utilization. A new forecast is generated and transmitted responsive to the network capacity utilization deviating from the forecast by more than a predetermined tolerance. A resource for delivering the items of media content is dynamically assigned to the processing system by the scheduling system in accordance with a current forecast. The items of media content comprise a queue accessible to the content delivery scheduling system; the queue is maintained by the scheduling system and is uniquely assigned to the processing system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Rong Lu, Richard Silvestri
  • Patent number: 10257559
    Abstract: A mobile device include a processor coupled to memory media, a touch interface coupled to the processor, a wireless interface coupled to the processor, and a display aligned with the touch interface and coupled to the processor. The memory media includes processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including remotely controlling a set top box associated with a client of a multimedia service provider and retrieving client-specific information from a client-specific websites provided by the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda A. Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Tuck Seng Tan
  • Patent number: 10248219
    Abstract: An intelligent television and methods for user interaction between the intelligent television and the user are provided. In general, a user is provided with navigation, notification, and setup options which enable one or more functions associated with the intelligent television. The presentation of options is based on input received by the intelligent television. As a user provides input to the intelligent television via a remote control or other input device, the intelligent television is configured to interpret the input and provide interactive functionality in the form of content presented to the display of the intelligent television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail Shoykher, Sanjiv Sirpal
  • Patent number: 10250919
    Abstract: A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Gordon